Capture-based aquaculture of glass eel nurseries, Anguilla bicolor in Cilacap, Central Java, Indonesia
Purnama Sukardi*1, Christina Tri Setyorini2, Dewi Susilowati, Warsidi2, Karina Odia Julialevi2, Laeli Budiarti2 and Miftahul Jannah2

1.Faculty of Fishery and Marine Sciences- 2. Faculty of Economics and Business, Jenderal Soedirman University. *Corresponding author: purnamaskd[at]gmail.com

Abstract

Capture-based aquaculture specially consider the fattening or on-growing of species which is based on the wild-caught seed. The survey was conducted to evaluate the sustainability of eel nurseries based on the catch of glass eels carried out by aquafarmers in Cilacap from Januari 2021 until March 2022. Ten districts were taken for this study, i.e. Kroya, Adipala, Maos, Kesugihan, Cilacap Utara, Jeruk legi, kawunganten, Bantarsari, Kedungreja and Sidareja. There were three species that inhabit the Segara Anakan area, including Anguilla bicolor, Anguilla nebulosa and Anguilla marmorata. There were two spawning periods in Segara Anakan which the first spawning was during September, October and November, and the second one was in March, April and May. Until now, several fishing gears used by fishermen in Segara Anakan to catch glass eels, namely anco (life net), jarring apong (fyke net), sero (trap guiding barrier), waring surung (push net). The technology of glass eel nursery was reliable, in the seedling areas, Segara Anakan, where most eels were produced. However, the industry was still wholly dependent on wild catches, glass eels, which were caught by fishermen during their migration from the sea to freshwater rivers and streams. There were two glass eel nurseries areas in Cilacap, namely around the Serayu and Citanduy rivers. In the east there are areas of Kroya, Maos and Kesugihan, while in the west in Kawunganten, Kaliwungu-Kalicengis Kedungreja and Gandrungmangu. The capture of glass eels, along with other environmental pollution and anthropogenic impacts, had all contributed to the significant decline in eel numbers over the past fiveteen (15) years, include sedimentation, illegal logging of mangrove and mangrove conversion, as well.

Keywords: glass eel nursery, Anguilla bicolor, capture-based aquaculture, spawning seasons

Topic: Aquatic Ecology and Conservation (International)