Eel farming studied
Silver belly tuna or eels are a traditional kaimoana caught in our freshwater lakes and riverways. Eel is a sought after commercial species although declining numbers through habitat degradation, the harvesting of glass eels for stocking aquaculture farms and the catching of migratory adult eels.
The difficulties of farming migratory fish species such as eels are well known. While wild harvesting is the only way in which eels are caught, advanced studies are being done on methods to increase sales volumes through intensive marine farming.
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| Eel breeding at Bream Bay Aquaculture facility |
Mick Kearney, 34, from Auckland, has been sponsored by Te Ohu Kaimoana to complete his doctoral studies into the habits of eels and has almost completed his research in conjunction with the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA).
Mick, Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairoa, graduated eight years ago from the University of Auckland with a Masters in Marine Biology and four years ago began work on his doctorate, which he hopes to complete early next year.
His study on short and long-finned eels is being conducted at the Bream Bay Aquaculture Facility at Ruakaka, south of Whangarei, and includes work on growth rates, salinity studies and general issues surrounding farming eels at land-based aquaculture farms.
“We're really looking at the viability of eel aquaculture. Whilst we have shown that we can grow short-finned eels successfully in recirculation systems, there are still several key biological and husbandry issues that need to be addressed,” Mick says.
“For an eel aquaculture industry to develop in New Zealand we need to get the basics right, after which we can then determine if it will be a money maker. At this stage there is still considerable work to be done”
Mick's work is part of a major study into eels carried out by NIWA and it is hoped the answers to these questions and more will see a traditional food resource secured to future generations.
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Tiakina ngā rawa hi ika, a tātou kaimoana mo ngā uri whakaheke
Protecting Māori fisheries assets for future generations