New Zealand Longfin Eel - Longfin Eel Aquaculture

Longfin Eel Aquaculture

There have been a number of attempts at growing Longfin eels in an aquaculture operation. The first were in the 1970s. These did not remain operational for long with the last farm closing in 1982. The most common reasons for these failures were economic (the high cost of production vs low price for the eels), variable recruitment of glass eels and the high mortality (death) rates in the farms. In the early 2000s there has been renewed interest in the aquaculture of Longfin eels due to the increasing knowledge of Longfins biology and the diminishing stocks of European eels (Anguilla Anguilla) but no farms have been built.