The fascinating and mysterious lifecycle of the humble eel was the focus of the latest Paynesville Probus Club meeting, featuring guest speaker and industry pioneer Ron Elton.
With family roots tracing back to Stradbroke, Mr Elton shared how his lifelong passion for the species was sparked during childhood holidays spent catching eels with his mother and uncles in Merriman Creek.
He detailed the extraordinary biological journey of the creatures, which leave the Gippsland Lakes as adults to travel thousands of kilometres to the Coral Sea to spawn and die. Their tiny larvae then embark on a remarkable seven-to-nine-month return voyage, transforming through seven distinct developmental stages before reaching fresh Gippsland waters and shifting into the recognisable rounded adult form.
In 1975, Mr Elton turned his passion into a commercial venture by securing an eel licence and establishing the Perry Bridge Eel Farm.
The entire operation was a labor of love, featuring hand-built ponds supplied by artesian bores and handmade nets. One of his custom designs, dubbed the “Elton Net”, proved so effective that it was later adopted by Fisheries and Wildlife for official eel research.
The venture expanded significantly in 1992 when Mr Elton and his wife Sharon launched East Coast Eels, an ambitious step into the commercial market.
“After all those years of catching eels, we decided it was time to do something about marketing them as well,” Mr Elton said.
The business grew into a fully integrated operation, encompassing farming, wild catching, processing, and supplying both domestic and international markets. Exporting live eels to Asia required a delicate process; the resilient creatures were carefully packed to survive up to 48 hours in transit in the cargo holds of commercial passenger flights.
Over his extensive career, Mr Elton has fished countless waterways, dams, and swamps across the region, spanning from Mallacoota to Warragul, Wonthaggi, and the Tarwin, Powlett, and Alberton rivers.
Committed to environmental sustainability, Mr Elton also ensured that local waterways were never overfished, regularly implementing restocking programs in key areas, including the Snowy River.
Paynesville Probus members extended their sincere thanks to Mr Elton for sharing his remarkable local success story and his insights into one of Gippsland’s most unique industries.
