Management strategy for sustainable eel farming

Abstract

The types of eel being farmed by the community are Anguilla bicolor and A. marmorata. A. bicolor eel farming has been developed in several areas in Java, such as Sukabumi, Cilacap, Kebumen and Banyuwangi Districts. The important issues of developing eel farming are high feed costs and water quality which is less favourable to the growth of eel. Therefore, it is necessary to have an economical but effective technology benefitting the eel farmers. The study was conducted through surveys in Cilacap from April-December 2018 and by using primary and secondary data. The respondents were selected using purposive sampling method. The method used was the combination of descriptive research and direct survey. The collected data were analyzed by applying an exponential comparison method. The results of the study showed that the eel feed combined with probiotics produced positive results favouring eel production. The subsidy program to provide probiotics and economical but effective eel feed should be proposed by the local Fisheries Agency in order to reduce the costs of eel production.