Acronym PRO-EEL
Category
Aquaculture
Title Reproduction of European Eel: Towards a Self-sustained Aquaculture Programme FP7
Instrument (FP6)
Contact Type (FP7)
Strand (Interreg)
FP7 - Small or Medium-Scale Focused Research Project
Theme (FP7)
Activity Area (FP6)
Regional Area (Interreg)
Action (COST)
KBBE – Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology
Specific Programme (FP7)
Cooperation
Funding source European Coordinator Jonna Tomkiewicz Coordinator email jt@aqua.dtu.dk
Coordinator institution
DTU - Technical University of Denmark (Denmark)
Institutions involved
BA - Billund Aquaculture Service (Denmark) ,
NA - BioMar (Denmark) ,
INRA - French National Institute for Agricultural Research (France) ,
NA - GCE Blue Maritime Cluster (Norway) ,
UGent - Ghent University (Belgium) ,
IMR - Institute of Marine Research (Norway) ,
NA - Leiden University (Netherlands) ,
INSTM - National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies (Tunisia) ,
NOFIMA - Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research (Norway) ,
NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway) ,
DLO - Stichting Dienst Landbouwkundig Onderzoek (Netherlands) ,
UPV - Universitat Politècnica de València (Spain) ,
KU - University of Copenhagen (Denmark) ,
WUR - Wageningen University and Research (Netherlands) ,
Start year 2010 End year 2014 Funding (€) € 5,087,331 Website http://www.pro-eel.eu/ Summary The recent decline of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) and no signs of recovery has brought attention to the biologically unsustainable exploitation of the stock. In September 2007, the EU has adopted the Council Regulation 1100/2007 establishing measures for the recovery of the European eel stock. However, eel are still fished intensively for human consumption while aquaculture and restocking rely exclusively on the supply of glass eels caught each year. A controlled production of eel larvae is ever more urgent. The objective of PRO-EEL is to develop standardized protocols for production of high quality gametes, viable eggs and feeding larvae. The approach is to expand knowledge about the intricate hormonal control and physiology of eels which complicates artificial reproduction. This knowledge will be applied in the development of suitable methods to induce maturation considering different rearing conditions. Knowledge about the gameto-genesis and maturation pattern will be developed in small scale tests and applied to establish standardized fertilization procedures. New knowledge about functional anatomy of embryos and yolksac larvae will be applied to develop suitable feed. Protocols for larval production will be tested in full scale experimental facilities managed in collaboration with a qualified SME. The integrated protocols and technology development will be evaluated relative to the output of healthy embryos and yolksac larvae. Larval feeds will be developed towards pioneering first-feeding in European eel larvae, which will be a major breakthrough and promising step towards a self-sustained aquaculture. The strength of the project is its interdisciplinary approach and the unique expertise of the consortium. PRO-EEL brings together leading institutes in eel reproduction complemented by excellence in disciplines filling gaps in knowledge and technology. A tight collaboration with the aquaculture industry promotes the applicability of developed technology.
The objective of the project is to substantiate the current knowledge on the eel reproduction and develop standardised protocols for controlled production of high quality gametes, viable eggs and feeding larvae of European eel (Anguilla anguilla). The primary bottlenecks in the control of reproduction of European eels in captivity concern deficiencies in knowledge and methodology to induce gametogenesis and produce viable eggs, embryos and larvae from captive broodstock in a regular and predictable way. The objectives therefore lead gradually from substantiating knowledge on hormonal control towards larval culture during the project. The specific objectives of PRO-EEL include: (1) Acquire specific knowledge on hormonal control and physiology of reproduction in order to improve broodstock nutrition, selection and conditioning and to develop suitable methods for induction of maturation in female and male eels; (2) Develop and test new standardised protocols to facilitate stable production of high quality eggs and semen and establish standardised fertilisation procedures to ensure healthy embryonic development for a sustained production of yolksac larvae; (3) Develop suitable and environmentally friendly larval feeds and establish feeding cultures of larvae.
Keywords
Fish;
Larval development;
Technology;
Land-based aquaculture;
Diets;
Capture-based aquaculture;
Protocol;
Fish reproduction;
Fish biology;
Larval rearing;
Broodstocks;
Eel;
Marine Region
24
Sound, Belt Sea or Transition Area (27.IIIb,c)
53
Northern Spain (GSA 6)
75
Northern Tunisia (GSA 12)
41
Norwegian Sea (27.IIa)
5
Southern North Sea (27.IVc)
6
Central North Sea (27.IVb)
6
Marine Region Map
