Some examples of large-scale movement and migration through the estuaries and inshore coastal zone of NSW by diadromous, estuarine and marine fishes, with special reference to the Australian longinned eel, Anguilla reinhardtii

Pease, B.C., 2006. Some examples of large-scale movement and migration through the estuaries and inshore coastal zone of NSW by diadromous, estuarine and marine fishes, with special reference to the Australian longinned eel, Anguilla reinhardtii. Pages 68 - 77 in Forrest, R.E., Scandol, J.P. and Pitcher, T.J. (eds) 'Towards ecosystem-based fishery management in New South Wales: Proceedings of the experts and data workshop, December 8 - 10, 2003, Cronulla, Australia'. University of British Columbia Fisheries Centre Research Report 14(5), 124pp.

Summary

The objective of this paper was to develop a simple conceptual model for summarising the movement of key functional groups of fishes through coastal aquatic areas in NSW that are being modelled by ecosystem simulation projects. The functional groups of fishes used in this summary were: 1) species that typically spend some part of their life history in fresh water and another part in the estuary or ocean, 2) estuarine species that spawn in the ocean then use estuaries as nurseries, 3) marine tropical reef species that spawn in the ocean then use estuaries as nurseries and 4) oceanic species that move large distances. There was no clear indication of net moment by adult fish in any particular direction through these areas. However, the early life history stages (eggs, larvae and small juveniles) move primarily into the estuarine and continental shelf areas from the freshwater and ocean areas. These early life history stages not only sustain populations of these fish species but also provide a significant source of food for larger juvenile and adult fish of many species in these inshore areas.