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Black Rockcod (Epinephelus daemelii)

Black Rockcod is a large reef-dwelling fish found in Australia from southern Queensland to eastern Victoria. Rocky reefs with caves, gutters and crevices are important habitat, while juveniles also use coastal rockpools and estuaries.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Vulnerable.

Seasonal planning

No species-specific activity or breeding months were found in the published sources used. Use the following as a works-planning prompt, not as seasonal biology.

Seasonal knowledge: Not documented in the sources used.

The month values are a general planning prompt only and do not represent known activity or breeding months for Epinephelus daemelii.

  • Plan checks before disturbance: General planning window only. Check the work area before disturbance whenever works are scheduled.

Identification: Appearance

It has a typical grouper appearance, with colour ranging from dark grey-black to a blotched or banded black-and-white pattern. Individuals on offshore reefs can be light in colour, while juveniles in estuaries are dark.

It has a typical grouper appearance, with colour ranging from dark grey-black to a blotched or banded black-and-white pattern. Individuals on offshore reefs can be light in colour, while juveniles in estuaries are dark.

Identification: Confirming identity

Confirm the identity of any suspected record with a specialist and a photograph or voucher, as required by the relevant permit.

Distribution: Known range

In Australia, it occurs along the coast from southern Queensland to eastern Victoria, as well as at Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, Elizabeth Reef and Middleton Reef. It also occurs in New Zealand and the Kermadec Islands.

In Australia, it occurs along the coast from southern Queensland to eastern Victoria, as well as at Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, Elizabeth Reef and Middleton Reef. It also occurs in New Zealand and the Kermadec Islands.

Distribution: National mapping

The Commonwealth species distribution model (SNES) maps where the species or its habitat is known, likely or may occur. Use it with local records and site inspection.

Habitat: Habitat

Black Rockcod inhabits coastal and offshore reefs, particularly caves, gutters and crevices, usually at depths of 1 to 50 m. Juveniles are found inshore, including in coastal rockpools and estuaries.

Black Rockcod inhabits coastal and offshore reefs, particularly caves, gutters and crevices, usually at depths of 1 to 50 m. Juveniles are found inshore, including in coastal rockpools and estuaries.

Foraging habitat: Diet

It is a generalised carnivore that preys on crustaceans and fish.

It is a generalised carnivore that preys on crustaceans and fish.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

Black Rockcod are protogynous hermaphrodites: individuals begin as females and are estimated to change to males at about 100 to 110 cm in length and 29 to 30 years of age.

Black Rockcod are protogynous hermaphrodites: individuals begin as females and are estimated to change to males at about 100 to 110 cm in length and 29 to 30 years of age.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

It commonly shelters in caves, gutters and crevices on reefs. Individuals are territorial and may remain in a small home range, sometimes using the same cave for much of adult life.

It commonly shelters in caves, gutters and crevices on reefs. Individuals are territorial and may remain in a small home range, sometimes using the same cave for much of adult life.

Threats: Threats

Overfishing and accidental hooking have reduced numbers, and loss or degradation of estuarine and intertidal nursery habitats is also a threat. Its slow growth, long lifespan and use of shallow coastal habitats increase its vulnerability to fishing pressure.

Overfishing and accidental hooking have reduced numbers, and loss or degradation of estuarine and intertidal nursery habitats is also a threat. Its slow growth, long lifespan and use of shallow coastal habitats increase its vulnerability to fishing pressure.

Threats: Works risk

Works that remove or degrade rocky reef habitat, including caves and overhangs, could affect the species. Damage or degradation to estuarine and intertidal nursery habitats could also affect juveniles.

Survey methodology: 1. Species-specific methods

Use methods consistent with the Commonwealth survey guidelines and engage a specialist with the right permits.

Broadscale surveys have recorded Black Rockcod abundance at survey sites and compared the number of fish and occupied sites between survey periods. Divers have also recorded individual fish during observations.

Survey methodology: 2. Commonwealth guidance

For EPBC Act referrals, survey effort and methods should be consistent with the survey guidelines for Australia's threatened fish, read with the Significant impact guidelines 1.1.

Survey methodology: 3. Limits

A non-detection is not proof of absence. Match survey timing to the species and season, and record effort.

Vegetation associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific vegetation association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific water association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before disturbance: 1. Desktop and approvals

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before works begin.

Check national mapping, state records and recent surveys for the site. An action likely to have a significant impact on this nationally listed species needs EPBC Act referral, and state permits apply where it is state listed.

Before disturbance: 2. Plan to avoid

Plan in-water works, vessel movements and lighting to avoid known habitat and sensitive periods, and set observer and shutdown procedures before works start.

During disturbance: 1. Controls

Keep works inside the approved footprint and conditions.

Use spotters and exclusion zones for in-water works and vessels, and pause works if the species is seen within the zone.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species is found unexpectedly, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and the relevant agency.

After disturbance: 1. Records

Record outcomes.

Record sightings, habitat lost or retained and any injury or death, and report them under the approval conditions.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed habitat where possible.

Remove temporary structures, restore natural flow and substrate, and monitor water quality until it returns to baseline.

Sources