Current Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis l.) Production, culture, technology and progress IN Europe

Eurasian perch was identified as one of the most perspective candidate for diversification of European aquaculture twenty years ago. This high value fish has a characteristic white flesh with small flake, delicate texture and mild flavour. Perch has been important food fish in Central Europe and Baltic Countries. Other countries, such as Switzerland, north France and southwest Germany, began to be interested in perch consumption as well. Generally, perch production is still insufficient in Europe however increasing of its production must reflect market demands, production cost and quality. Swiss market such is the largest perch market in Europe, annually imports 2 000 to 4 000 tons of perch fillets. Retail selling price of fresh filets ranges from 87 € in Switzerland, 30 € in Germany, 18 € in Czech Republic to 7-10 € in Eastern Europe.  According to FAO, total perch production from wild capture in Europe reached 22, 421 tones in 2013. The majority of production is coming from Russia, Finland and Estonia. Total tonnage of farmed perch produced in 2013 according to FAO statistics was 512 tones. Largest producers are Russia (220 t), Switzerland (165 t) and Ireland (40 t).

Aquaculture producers from Central and Eastern Europe have used a traditional polyculture pond system where marketable perch is produced with cyprinids and other carnivorous species during three years cycle. This system has a lot of production limitations such as unpredictable, seasonal, inefficient production with long production cycle and unforeseen fish quality and size. Therefore, fish farms mainly in Western Europe started to invest in intensive perch farming using recirculating systems (RAS). At present there is around 30 intensive perch farms across Europe. However, current perch sector in Europe is still very small and it needs constant innovation, support through applied project such was Percatech project (2004-2006). Generally, developed intensive perch farming has better rationalized with well operating RAS, ensuring good water quality. Optimized broodstock management using a hormonal (GnRHa) or environmental (photo-thermal regime) stimulation provides maturated and well prepared broodstock for year-round and stable gamete production. During artificial egg insemination, new approaches (sperm cryopreservation and activation solutions) are tested in perch practice. Optimized weaning protocol with using of surface skimmers in tanks provide well developed larvae. However, larval and juvenile production is still not sufficient. Husbandry routines (e.g. feeding techniques, tank cleaning, fish sorting etc.) are still optimized with the aim to ensure high fish productivity and food conversion during ongrowing phase.

Eurasian perch production in Europe have following main limitations: short domestication period, inadequate understanding of nutrition in broodstock and larvae, unstable larval and juvenile production, slow growth in large fish, lack of veterinary knowledge, working experience with RAS and financial support during initial building phase of new perch farms. Future development using suitable diets, good therapeutics (probiotics) in RAS, more formalized domestication and selection program, production of all female, triploid and hybrid populations and development of market are needed for improving the performances and profitability of perch production in Europe.

This research was supported by CENAKVA I and II (CZ.1.05/2.1.00/01.0024 and LO1205), NAZV (QJ1510117) and GAJU (074/2013/Z) projects.