July 17, 2006

Danish researchers succeed at hatching European eel in captivity

Researchers in the DANA FEED Research Centre have succeeded in artificial fertilisation and in hatching of the larvae of the European eel.

The project started 3 years ago and has been further developed by The Danish Institue for Fisheries Research (DIFRES).

Danish eel researchers recently succeeded in beating the world record by keeping larvae of the European eel alive for five days The research team is also the first to achieve mass hatchings of the species in the laboratory.

Hatching of the European eel in captivity is believed to be extremely difficult.

The project aims to make it possible to deliver reared eel fry to aquaculture.

The centre is also looking at alternative ingredients for fish feed, such as vegetable oils. The centre was founded in 1990 with the aim of developing high quality fish feed for intensive fish farming.