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Freshwater Fish of Victoria: Grayling | FN0055 |
Fisheries Victoria, Melbourne
Updated: March 2007
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Common Name:
Grayling
Other Names:
Australian Grayling, Cucumber mullet,Cucumber erring, Cucumber fish,Yarra herring
Family:
Prototroctidae
Scientific Name:
Prototroctes maraena Gunther, 1864
Status:
Native | |
Grayling has been listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. Under this legislation, the taking, possession or trading of grayling Cod is prohibited without a permit, license or Governor-in-Council Order issued under the Act. A Recreational Fishing Licence is not a permit under the Act.
As recreational fishing is not considered to be a threatening process to the surviuval of grayling, the taking of grayling from Victorian waters by rod and line in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries Act 1995 and the Fishing Regulations 1998 is permitted under the powers of a Governor-in-Council Order of August 1991. Departmental research and management activities have been authorised by an Order made under the powers of the Act by the Governor-in-Council.
Description
Slender body with a small head. Large eyes, usually bright yellow; rounded snout. Lower jaw is shorter than the upper jaw. Adipose fin. Mouth reaches to below the eye. No scales on the head and no lateral line. Brownish to olive or grey on the upper body, lighter on the sides, belly is usually white or yellowish. Peculiar cucumber smell given off by freshly caught fish.
Distribution
Coastal drainages from the Hopkins River eastwards. Can occur well inland in these streams. Once common in all waters, it is still abundant in some localities.
Habitat
River and streams with a cool, clear, moderate flow, with a gravel substrate and alternating pools and riffles.
Brief Biology
Known to reach 33 cm in length, most common at 17-19 cm. Believed to be omnivorous, taking insect larvae of various types, small crustaceans, and plant material. Matures sexually at 1-2 years of age and 15 cm, females appear to mature after 2 years in fresh water, producing an average of 47,000 eggs.
Complete life-cycle is not known, but current view is that spawning takes place in the freshwater midreaches of streams during late April-early May. Eggs are scattered over the substrate and newly hatched larvae are presumed to be swept downstream to brackish water where they re¬main for about 6 months.
Newly-hatched fish are known to react strongly to light, preferring shady areas.
During November juveniles ascend to the midreaches of the river where they spend the rest of their lives. Evidence indicates that the majority of grayling die before or during their third year.
Other Notes
Considered an endangered species in the 1970's and early 1980's, but recent investigations indicate that while it may be locally rare it occurs over a wide area. Has recently been confirmed again in several locations in the Yarra River.
The apparent decline-abundance cycles in grayling may reflect the species complex life cycle and high fecundity. Several difficult environmental years in succession (typical of Australia's drought-flood cycles) could have serious effects on grayling populations, but survivors could explosively repopulate during favourable years.
A very common fish a century ago, populations declined dramatically during the last half of the 19th century, probably as the result of the impact of man on habitat, stream regulation and siltation of stream beds, and possible impact of introduced species such as trout. Previously common in the Yarra River, grayling were thought to be no longer present in the river until recently when fish were found below Dights Falls and another location upstream.
Once a highly esteemed sporting fish, renowned for its table qualities. Now seldom taken of little significance as an angling or food species.
Regulations
The Fishing Regulations specify Recreational Fishing Licence requirements and the means by which the angler may take eels.
Details of licensing requirements and fishing regulations are provided in the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide available free of charge from DPI Offices and RFL sales agents.
Further Information
Freshwater Fish of Victoria is a series of brief information material on the native and introduced freshwater fish of Victoria's inland waters. Further, detailed reading on grayling is contained in:
- A Guide to the Freshwater Fish of Victoria, Phillip Cadwallader & Gary Backhouse, Department of Conservation and Environment
- Australian Freshwater Fishes, John R. Merrick & Gunther E. Schmida
- Biological Information for Management of Native Freshwater Fish in Victoria, J D Koehn, W G O'Connor
Acknowledgement
This Information Note was prepared by Charles Barnham PSM, with the assistance of Gary Backhouse, Phillip Cadwallader and Tarmo Raadik. The previous version was published in April 1998.
The advice provided in this publication is intended as a source of information only. Always read the label before using any of the products mentioned. The State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
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