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EELPOUT
THE ICHTHYOFAUNA OF SUFFOLK: THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE EELPOUT ZOARCES VIVIPARUS JIM R. ELLIS AND GARY J. BURT Introduction Eelpout, or viviparous blenny, Zoarces viviparus (L., 1758) (Order Perciformes; Family Zoarcidae; Fig. 1) is an inshore fish that is often reported from estuaries, harbours, shorelines and shallow seas to depths of about 40 m (Poll, 1947; Andriashev, 1986). It usually attains a maximum length of about 35 cm total length (L T), but it has been suggested that it can grow to 52 cm LT (Andriashev, 1986). The biogeographical range of eelpout extends from the English Channel through the North Sea to the Barents Sea and White Sea, including the Baltic Sea (Andriashev, 1986), but it appears to be more frequent along the coasts of continental Europe than the British Isles (Heessen, 2015).
Figure 1: Specimen of Eelpout Zoarces viviparous. Photograph: J. Ellis (CEFAS). Along the south-eastern coasts of the United Kingdom, eelpout was purportedly common off the Hampshire coast, and also common off the coasts of Norfolk and Yorkshire (Yarrell, 1859). Along the intervening section of coastline, it has been reported from the Thames area, ranging from the Medway and Swale (Kent) to Leighon-Sea, Southend, and the entrances to the Rivers Blackwater and Crouch in Essex (Murie, 1903; Wheeler, 1979). Along the coasts of Suffolk and eastern Norfolk, it has been reported from Lowestoft beach (including Claremont Pier), with young specimens in the inner harbour (Lowe, 1874; Patterson, 1910), as well as Martlesham Creek, Orford, Aldeburgh, River Blyth, River Waveney (to St Olaves), and Breydon water (Patterson, 1910; Collings, 1933). The historical abundance of eelpout in some of these areas is unclear, although Murie (1903) noted that “at certain spots in the winter season it simply swarms”, and Patterson (1910) considered it to be common off eastern Suffolk. Whilst Laver (1898) considered that it was not rare in the waters of Essex, Wheeler (1979) later reported that it was not common in the entrance to the Thames. Inshore surveys along the south-eastern coast of the UK (1981–1997) indicated that eelpout was observed most commonly off the Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth areas, as well as in various estuarine ecosystems, such as the Swale (Kent), Southend (Essex), The Wash, Humber, and Bridlington Bay (Rogers et al., 1998). Eelpout was also observed to more prevalent in The Wash and, across the wider survey area, was generally found in waters 3–14 m deep (Rogers et al., 1998). Trans. Suffolk Nat. Soc. 60 (2024)