Japanese scientists have been trying to replicate spawning conditions for eels in captivity for decades. They’re getting closer, but major hurdles remain.
Trans-omics analysis was used to evaluate the differences between cultured and wild female Japanese eels, and possible causes of the ovulation problems frequently seen in cultured females.
The Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) is cultured in ponds in Japan, China, the Republic of Korea and other countries. Ongoing research is addressing knowledge gaps in the domestication, controlled breeding and nutritional requirements of the species.
After a decade of research, Korea has produced individual glass eels for Japanese eel aquaculture. Despite dependence upon the wild seed, Japanese eel aquaculture production has been growing significantly and comprises over 27 percent of Korea’s freshwater aquaculture.