PT Suri Tani Pemuka (STP), a subsidiary of JAPFA, has achieved a historic milestone in aquaculture through its Aquaculture Research Center (ARC) in Banyuwangi, East Java. They successfully reproduced the high-value tropical eel, Anguilla bicolor, a feat never before accomplished. This success marks a significant step forward in the sustainable management of eel populations, benefiting commercial aquaculture and conservation efforts.
ARC, recognized as a leading research center in aquaculture, collaborated with international institutions such as the Higher Institution Centres of Excellence, Borneo Marine Research Institute of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), and Kindai University. Through this collaboration, ARC overcame one of the most significant challenges in aquaculture: reproducing eels outside of their natural habitat.
The tropical eel, or Anguilla bicolor, is a highly prized species in culinary markets across Asia and the world. Its high demand is driven by its delicious taste and rich nutritional content, making it a premium food choice. However, the sustainability of wild eel populations is increasingly threatened by overfishing and the loss of natural habitats. This makes ARC's achievement so critical, as it paves the way for sustainable eel farming that can meet demand without compromising environmental conservation.
Reproducing eels in captivity is a challenging task. The eel's complex life cycle, which involves migrating thousands of kilometers from freshwater rivers to deep ocean waters to breed, makes it difficult to replicate in an artificial environment. Until now, eel farming has relied on capturing young eels (glass eels) from the wild—a no longer sustainable practice. However, the research team at ARC, led by Prof. Dr. Senoo Shigeharu, has successfully overcome this challenge. They developed a method to hatch 70,000 eel larvae in captivity. They managed to sustain them for 11 days—a milestone demonstrating the potential for large-scale tropical eel production in captivity. Ardi Budiono, CEO of STP, emphasized that this achievement represents a crucial milestone in the sustainable management of eel populations. "For the first time, we have successfully hatched tropical eels in a controlled environment," he said. "We believe that the ability to reproduce eels in captivity will significantly impact the aquaculture industry, not only in Asia but globally. STP will continue to develop sustainable eel farming practices, further eel research, and support efforts to increase eel populations in their natural habitats."
This success brings new opportunities to the aquaculture industry and offers renewed hope for conserving tropical eels. By reducing reliance on wild-caught eels, JAPFA is helping to protect endangered eel populations and contribute to biodiversity and ecosystem balance. In the long term, this also supports sustainable aquaculture practices, which could serve as a model for the global industry.
JAPFA remains committed to efficient and sustainable animal protein production as a leading food industry company. This breakthrough in tropical eel breeding demonstrates how effective farming principles can be applied to aquaculture, particularly in reducing dependence on wild-caught glass eels. Renaldo Santosa, President Director of PT Japfa Comfeed Indonesia Tbk, affirmed that cultivating tropical eels in captivity is a strategic step to ensure wild eel populations' survival while contributing to biodiversity and ecosystem health.
This achievement is a testament to JAPFA's vision, perseverance, and innovation. Through close collaboration between industry and academia, the challenges of sustainable food production can be addressed, bringing new hope for the future of aquaculture and tropical eel conservation worldwide.