VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Unagi or freshwater eel is one of the most wanted dishes in Japanese restaurants across the globe. Currently, some 80 percent consumption of Unagi comes from cultivation, but the eel larvae still come from natural capture. Besides, the survival rate of eel larvae is very low. So, commercial use can reduce the eel population stability in nature. This condition certainly can threaten the Unagi population in Indonesia, as happened in Japan and Europe.

In a press release on Sunday (19/12), Minister of Maritime and Fishery, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said that fish resources in Indonesia, including the diverse Unagi, needs to be managed responsibly to keep it long-lasting and to bring welfare for the Unagi fishermen. Conservation principles application and all involvement in managing the unagi are expected to bring a guarantee for the sustainability of Unagi in Indonesia.

In Indonesia, one of the Unagi cultivations is located in Sukabumi, West Java. The Unagi larvae from Sukabumi does support not only local cultivation, but also cultivation business across Indonesian.

Unagi cultivation development by improving the survival rate of the eels during the critical phase from larvae into elver is part of the cooperation among FAO, Maritime & Fisheries Ministry, and Sukabumi Regency Government through IFish Project. This project received funding from the Global Environment Fund. Also, Tonjong Fish Seeds Agency in Sukabumi became a demo location for elver cultivation.

Head of the Fish Research Center,Yayan Hikmayani said that the IFish project with FAO and Sukabumi regency has been ongoing since 2018. The previous effort successfully increased the larvae to level survival rate up to 60 percent. The main focus of the cooperation is land waters biodiversity conservation principles mainstreaming in the policy through demo and sustainable use, especially for the Unagi.

Meanwhile, Manager of FAO-IFish National Project, Sudarsono said that the IFish project will be continued in 2022 to arrange some strategic policies, such as regional regulation on Land Fish Management and Unagi Cultivation Management Master Plan in Sukabumi.