Distribution and abundance of freshwater eels (Anguilla spp.) in Tasmania

Abstract

The distribution of A. australis australis Richardson and A. reinhardtii Steindachner in Tasmania was determined from electrofishing surveys and commercial catch records. A. a. australis is abundant in coastal streams and extends far inland in the major drainage systems to the main lakes in Tasmania's Central Highlands. Density and biomass estimates for A. a. australis in streams, <0.01-1 .40 m^-2 and 0.04-23.01 g m^-2, respectively, are similar to those recorded for A. australis schmidtii Phillipps in New Zealand and for A. anguilla L. in Europe, A. reinhardtii is restricted to coastal lagoons and the lower freshwater reaches and estuaries of streams in north-eastern Tasmania including Flinders Island. Substantial populations of A. reinhardtii reside in these areas (0.05 m^-2, 114.66 g m^-2 in Douglas River). Analysis of commercial catch statistics indicates that the initial eel yields from standing waterbodies were high in the 1960s by world standards, although landings and catch per unit effort have subsequently declined.