Objectif Closed, recirculating intensive aquaculture is a new technology potentially offering major advantages including reduction in normal production time, water input and beneficial environmental effects. The major aim of this proposal is to produce a basic scientific understanding of the factors that effect intensive recirculating culture of the European eel in order to provide short-term benefits in efficiency and economic viability for eel farming within the EC. Research is being carried out in order to produce a basic scientific understanding of the factors that effect intensive recirculating culture of the European eel so short term benefits in efficiency and economic viability can be provided for eel farming within the European Community (EC). On growing experiments have shown a significant increase in growth rates of eels maintained in isosmotic salinities compared to freshwater. These fish established changes in the plasma composition and osmoregulation together with increased clearance rates of cortisol at most growth stages. The effects of stocking density are currently being investigated. In glass eel experiments the importance of utilizing paste rather than crumb food in initial weaning has been clearly demonstrated. Furthermore, a new experimental diet was shown to achieve greater growth rates and substantially reduced mortalities than a commercial diet in either paste or crumb form and allowed optimal stocking densities to be determined. The effect of salinity on growth and mortality of glass eels is currently being assessed.Unlike some intensively farmed fish such as salmonids, little is known of the stress factors effecting mortality and optimal growth rates in intensive eel culture. The primary effects of stress are mediated by increases in the key endocrines, corticosteroids and catecholamines, which in turn have profound effects on the cardiovascular system, appetite, growth and maturation, immunosuppression, and ion and water balance. Another major problem in eel farming is the availability and high mortality of the glass eel which forms the starting point of all eel culture techniques. Specifically, the programme will establish: Methods of assessing stress in intensive recirculating systems and determine optimal growth conditions by reducing detrimental stress effects. Develop techniques for reducing glass eel mortality and investigate the factors controlling glass eel development, thereby increasing availability of the basic commodity prerequisite necessary for eel farming. The project will be developed in the following phases: Determination of stress and its effect on eel culture Stress will be monitoring in two ways: determination of hormonal changes, determination of stress effects on blood composition. Glass eel mortality and seasonal availability Glass eel mortality: food type, osmoregulatory stress, density. Glass eel availability. Champ scientifique agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesfisheriessocial sciencessociologydemographymortalityengineering and technologymaterials engineeringmedical and health scienceshealth sciencesnutrition Programme(s) FP2-FAR - Community research and coordination programmes (EEC) in the fisheries sector, 1988-1992 Thème(s) Data not available Appel à propositions Data not available Régime de financement Data not available Coordinateur University of St Andrews Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse KY16 8LB St Andrews Royaume-Uni Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Participants (2) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution de l’UE Tout développer Tout réduire Centro Ricerche e Sperimentazioni Acquacoltura Ligure Italie Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse 16100 Genova Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Università degli Studi di Genova Italie Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Viale San Benedetto XV 5 16100 Genova Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée
