Reproducing tropical eel in captivity

Editor/Mohamed Shihab

Singapore-based Japfa Group has announced what it is calling a breakthrough in eel aquaculture.

The group’s PT Suri Tani Pemuka (STP), which operates the Aquaculture Research Center (ARC) in Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia, has successfully bred tropical eel (Anguilla bicolor) in captivity.

The eel is in high demand in Asian markets for its “rich flavor and high nutritional content, making it a popular choice for premium dishes,” Japfa said in a press release.

“Sustainable aquaculture of tropical eel addresses the growing demand, while reducing pressure on wild populations, thus contributing to biodiversity conservation and ecological balance,” it said. “As eel populations continue to decline globally, finding a way to breed them in captivity has become crucial for conservation efforts and commercial purposes.”

Under the leadership of Senoo Shigeharu, ARC researchers successfully hatched 70,000 tropical eel larvae, achieving larval rearing for 11 days, demonstrating the potential for large-scale commercial production of the species.

Tropical eels have a complex life cycle, traveling thousands of kilometers from freshwater rivers to deep oceans, making eel farming a complicated endeavor, as conditions conducive to reproduction are difficult to replicate outside of the eels’ natural habitat, according to STP President Director Ardi Budiono. Currently, all farmed eels are caught as juvenile elders, or glass eels, and then raised to market size in farms. Budiono said this approach is not sustainable, as it reduces wild eel populations already at risk due to overfishing and habitat loss.

“We believe that the ability to reproduce eel in captivity will have a substantial impact on the aquaculture industry in Asia and globally,” Budiono said in a press release. “To ensure the sustainability of tropical eel populations, STP will continue to implement sustainable eel farming practices, conducting eel research and supporting our efforts to restock eels in their natural habitat, as part of our commitment to sustainable aquaculture.”

Indonesia has ideal conditions to host tropical eel farms, according to Japfa Group Executive Director and Japfa Comfeed Indonesia President Director Renaldo Santosa.