Wageningen University and Research Centre (Wageningen UR) (www.wageningenuniversity.nl/UK/) with its 5,600 staff and more than 8,500 students contributes actively to solving scientific, social and commercial problems in the field of life sciences and natural resources. The Aquaculture and Fisheries Group (AFI) is part of the Department of Animal Sciences on the interactions between aquatic organisms and their environment. Research focuses on the interactions between aquatic organisms and their environment and is organized according three levels of integration: Organism, Production system and Ecosystem. AFI has a strong history in eel research, both at the organism (nutritional and reproductive physiology) and the production system level.
Tasks inside the project
AFI will participate in WP2 as Task leader in providing a review on eel nutrition and metabolism pertinent to broodstock, gamete and larval quality, with special emphasis on lipid content and composition and will participate in a benchmark analysis and in formulation and testing of broodstock diets. AFI will within WP1 coordinate and write protocols for sampling and biochemical analysis of samples from WP’s 1 to 9 and participate in the organisation of an international symposium (WP10).
Relevant experience regarding major tasks
AFI scientists are experienced in fish nutrition, from broodstock to larval and juvenile stages, and in sampling and analytical procedures, in order to provide mass balance analyses on resource partitioning at the organism and the culture system level. Moreover AFI has an extended international network that will benefit the consortium in the organisation the symposium and in the establishment of networks.
Project participants
Prof. Dr. Johan Verreth, Head of Department, is experienced in fish nutrition, especially larval fish physiology and nutrition, and in fish health management. He is past president of the European Aquaculture Society (EAS) and has extensive experience aquaculture and scientific cooperation (EU: FP6; Asia: Vietnam, China, Japan).
Ir.Leon Heinsbroek is experienced in fish nutrition and growth. His work on eel physiology, nutrition and growth, as well as on culture system design and performance has formed the basis for the development of the modern eel farming industry in recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS) in the Netherlands and Denmark.
Ing. Ep Eding is experienced in fish reproduction and in design and performance of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). He has worked on growth and development of eels maintained in captivity.
Relevant publications
Beullens, K., Eding, E.H., Ollevier, F., Komen, J., Richter, C.J.J., 1997. Sex differentiation, changes in length, weight and eye size before and after metamorphosis of European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) maintained in captivity. Aquaculture 153, 151-162.
Beullens, K., Eding, E.H., Gilson, P., Ollevier, F., Komen, J., Richter, C.J.J., 1997. Gonadal differentiation, intersexuality and sex ratios of European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) maintained in captivity. Aquaculture 153, 135-150.
Heinsbroek, L.T.N., Kreuger, J.G., 1992. Feeding and growth of glass eels, Anguilla anguilla L.: the effect of feeding stimulants on feed intake, energy metabolism and growth. Aquaculture and Fisheries Management 23, 327-336.
Heinsbroek, L.T.N., Goedegebuur, B.J., Bloemhof, G., Flach, R.B., de Jong, G.D.C., 2008. Gastrointestinal and metabolic effects of feeding schedule on voluntary feed intake and growth of European eel, Anguilla anguilla. Aquaculture International 16, 93-108.
Heinsbroek, L.T.N., Van Hooff, P.L.A., Swinkels, W., Tanck, M.W.T., Schrama, J.W., Verreth, J.A.J., 2007. Effects of feed composition on life history developments in feed intake, metabolism, growth and body composition of European eel, Anguilla anguilla. Aquaculture 267, 175-187.
Van Ginneken, V., Antonissen, E., Muller, U.K., Booms, R., Eding, E., Verreth, J., van den Thillart, G., 2005. Eel migration to the Sargasso: remarkably high swimming efficiency and low energy costs. Journal of Experimental Biology 208, 1329-1335.