Fisheries Infosite

Short-finned freshwater eel (SFE)
Maori name
Scientific name
Anguilla australis, A. reinhardtii

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 
for the 12 month period to 30/09/2023

Freshwater eels are now managed under the QMS as LFE and SFE. Prior to 1 October 2016, South Island Eel Stocks were managed under the ANG code (note SFE13 and LFE13 was managed under ANG13 until 31 January 2017).

Commercial use
Reported catch MHR (kg) 152,631
Commercial allowance TACC (kg) 589,120
Export volume (kg) 0
Estimated domestic consumption (kg) Unknown

Customary use
Customary allowance (kg) 139,030
Customary take (kg) Unknown

Recreational use
Recreational allowance (kg) 72,440
Recreational take (kg) Unknown

Other sources of mortality
Other mortality allowance (kg) 13,000 
Illegal take (kg) Unknown 
Commercial Catch vs. Allowance* - Trend
Reported catch by month* - Trend
*All amounts are shown in thousands of kgs.



Fishstock CodeNameReported comm. catch (kg)TACC (kg)Cust. allow. (kg)Rec. allow. (kg)Target In QMS
SFE21 Short-finned eel Waikato/Pover... 74,560 134,000 24,000 19,000 No Yes
SFE22 Short-finned eel Hawke Bay/Wel... 28,564 94,000 14,000 11,000 No Yes
SFE20 Short-finned eel Northland/Auc... 20,273 86,000 30,000 28,000 No Yes
SFE13! Short-finned eel Lake Ellesmer... 20,018 134,120 34,380 3,440 No Yes
SFE23 Short-finned eel Taranaki/Rang... 6,853 23,000 6,000 5,000 No Yes
SFE14 Short-finned eel South Canterb... 1,465 10,000 2,570 1,000 No Yes
SFE15 Short-finned eel Otago/Southla... 534 29,000 7,420 1,000 No Yes
SFE11 Short-finned eel Nelson/Marlbo... 364 19,000 4,870 1,000 No Yes
SFE12 Short-finned eel North Canterb... 20,000 5,100 1,000 No Yes
SFE16 Short-finned eel Westcoast 30,000 7,690 1,000 No Yes
SFE17 Short-finned eel South-East(Ch... 10,000 3,000 1,000 No Yes
SFEET Short-finned eel Extra Territo... No No
   152,631 589,120 139,030 72,440