The reproduction of eels in captivity has become an important research focus due to the severe decline of the natural stocks. Leading scientists from European research institutes and the aquaculture industry are determined to reproduce the European eel in captivity. The result is a € 5 mill research project: PRO-EEL, coordinated by DTU and supported financially by the European Commission.
Many fish species do not reproduce in captivity and eels are among them. In the wild, the European eel migrate to the Sargasso Sea to spawn. They do not reproduce in our waters due to a hormonal inhibition of maturation. In the PRO-EEL project the eels therefore receive hormonal treatment to develop gametes and fertilization is made in vitro.
The objectives of the PRO-EEL project are to expand the current knowledge on European eel reproduction and develop methods for successful maturation and production of offspring. This includes selecting suitable broodstocks, improving the quality of eggs and sperm, and fertilization methods and culture conditions conducive to the production of viable eggs and larvae.
A particular challenge will be to find suitable feed and establish feeding cultures of larvae. The long term perspective of this research – and an indicated goal of the European Commission – is to establish a self-sustained aquaculture of eels in Europe.
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Further information and contact
Project homepage: http://www.PRO-EEL.eu
Project coordinator: Jonna Tomkiewicz, DTU, jt@aqua.dtu.dk
Project manager: Oliver Schneider, IMARES: Oliver.Schneider@wur.nl