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Development of hatchery technology for European eel aquaculture: first results on larval feeding and growth in culture Jonna Tomkiewicz and Sebastian N. Politis, DTU and Sune Riis Sørensen, Billund Aquaculture
Figure 1. European eel development from egg via embryonic stages to hatch in hours and yolk sac larvae in days after hatch at 20ºC – ultimately reaching the feeding larval stage.
Future growth and sustainability of eel aquaculture extensively depends on closing the life cycle in captivity. A general decline of the natural population of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) has brought together industry and scientists across the continent in an effort to develop breeding and hatchery technology, enabling captive production of glass eels, the juvenile stage used as fry in eel aquaculture. The vision is an eel industry relying on closed life cycle propagation,
Hatchery Feed & Management Vol 8 Issue 3 2020
ensuring high-quality, year-round hatchery production of glass eels to sustain commercial farming and facilitate breeding programs. Life cycle challenges for controlled propagation One of the main challenges to the establishment of eel hatchery technology is the complex catadromous life cycle of Anguillid eels. Here, knowledge about their natural reproduction and spawning habitat is