WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • DECEMBER 2014 29 The continuous decline in eel production from wild capture fisheries has become a formidable issue globally. Most eel populations have already been declared to be threatened or close to extinction. However, eel demand for human consumption continues to grow, particularly in Asia. Consequently, because of limited glass eel supply from the wild and unsuccessful commercial glass eel production technology, the glass eel price has surged to a historic high. As a result, eel production has become one of the most difficult and challenging aquaculture industries in the world. Despite three decades of phenomenal research advances, the scientific community has not been able to develop the complete package for eel farming on a commercial scale. At present, Japan is the only country to have developed a complete eel production technology but the production of seedlings is insufficient to meet international demand. Eel Aquaculture in Korea In Korea, Pukyong National University initiated research on the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica in 2002 and achieved success in fertilizing eggs. In 2006, a majority of the eel research moved to the country’s largest fisheries research institution, the National Fisheries Research & Development Institute (NFRDI). Subsequently Korea’s government policy was targeted to develop complete aquafarming technology for eel in the near future. After a decade of research efforts, Korea has finally Dietary Requirements for Ascorbic Acid, α-Tocopheryl Acetate and Arachidonic Acid in Japanese Eel, Anguilla japonica Sungchul C. Bai, Kumar Katya and Hyeonho Yun produced two individual glass eels for aquaculture. Korea should soon have a complete aquafarming package for eels and begin to play a greater role in global eel production (Bai et. al. 2012). Not surprisingly, despite the lack of a comprehensive technical package for eel aquafarming and complete dependence on nature for glass eels, aquaculture production has developed impressively in Korea. Japanese eel production accounts for 27 percent of freshwater aquaculture in Korea, due to historical high demand in domestic and international markets, especially in Japan. Production of eel increased from a negligible value of 500 t in 1980 to 4,257 t in 2012 (Fig. 1). However, aquaculture production of eels peaked in 2010 and then declined in the next two years. Every year, 10 to 20 t of 0.2-g wild captured glass eel are stocked and grown to 200-g marketable size within one year. However, in 2012, only 2 t of glass eel were captured domestically and 7-8 t were imported from different countries. The current market price for glass eels is around $7 per individual ($35,000/kg) while market-size eel fetches a premium price of around $50-70/kg at the farm gate (Fig. 2, Bai et. al. 2012). Favorable government support that spurred research and the growing experience of farmers based on trial and error have established a strong foundation for eel aquaculture. Consistent TOP, FIGURE 1. Eel production trend in Korea and the world. BOTTOM, FIGURE 2. Trend in glass eel capture and price. The continuous decline in eel production from wild capture fisheries has become a formidable issue globally. Most eel populations have already been declared to be threatened or close to extinction. However, eel demand for human consumption continues to grow, particularly in Asia. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 30)
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjExNDY=