New regulations to help protect Victorian elephantfish stocks

6:16 AM Fri 19 Jun 2009 GMT

'Elephant Fish'

Fisheries Victoria has reaffirmed the importance of the new daily catch limit of one Elephant fish per person, which came into effect on 2 March 2009.

There has been a significant increase in recreational fishing for Elephant fish in Western Port bay in the last decade; therefore, the reduction was necessary to ensure the harvest of this species is sustainable.

Public submissions on the new fisheries regulations were equally divided in support and opposition to the proposed elephantfish catch limit reduction.

The Elephant Fish can be easily recognised by the hoe-shaped structure on the snout. Its head has a series of obvious sensory canals and pores. The pectoral fins are large, the first dorsal fin is preceded by a strong, serrated spine, and the caudal fin has a long upper lobe. The body is silvery white, and sometimes has darker markings behind the eyes and on the fins. This strange looking fish grows to 1.2m in length.

It lives to depths of at least 200m on the continental shelf of southern Australia and New Zealand, where it is caught commercially.

In spring, females migrate into coastal bays and estuaries to lay their egg cases (lower image) in sand and muddy substrates. The distinctively-shaped egg cases are sometimes found washed ashore after storms. They are up to 25cm long, 10cm wide, and take up to eight months to hatch.

The Elephant Fish has a skeleton made of cartilage. Sharks and rays also have cartilaginous skeletons. All three groups of fishes are classified in the class Chondrichthyes.

Recent scientific studies indicate fishing pressure has reduced the reproductive capacity of elephant fish in south-east Australian waters by more than 50 per cent over the last 30-40 years. Elephantfish are a relatively long lived, slow growing species with a low reproductive capacity. They migrate into Western Port bay each year during February and May to spawn and Western Port bay is the most important water body for egg laying in Australia.

It is clear from the scientific information we have that a careful management strategy for this species is necessary. Fisheries Victoria is committed to the sustainable development of fisheries resources for the benefit of future generations.

www.dpi.vic.gov.au

by DPI VIC/Powerboat-world.com