IFRDMD conducted a study of Anguillid Eel in West Java, Indonesia, on 10-16 October 2021. The team of 11 persons was divided into three groups.
The first group focused on obtaining the data of Anguillid eels stock in Cimandiri River using acoustic equipment. There were two methods applied in the study. The first method was the target strength survey of eels to measure the response of eels to acoustic instruments. At the same time, the second method was an acoustic survey on the Cimandiri River with a combination of the zig-zag track with down looking transducer and a straight track with a side-looking transducer. The analysis was carried out by calculating the target strength value of eel, then calculating the estimated density of fish, especially eel in the Cimandiri River, and displaying it in graphs and spatial distribution maps.
The second group visited the station of fishing gears installed in Cimandiri and Cikaso River. As a routine activity, it aims to get the data of anguillid eel trapped in the fishing gears every month for measuring the stock of anguillid eel. The team also took the samples for genetic study and brought the tissue sample to the laboratory to be observed deeply. The team measured the samples for the other routine data to get the length-weight of anguillid eels and other morphometric data.
While the third group, having a task to interview the fishers regarding the socio-economic and gender issue. It is exciting that the women were also actively involved in capturing the anguillid eels, although it was conducted in the evening to early morning. The group also had a chance to meet and discuss with the angler community of Anguillid eels using the line fishing gear.
After finishing the Palabuhan Ratu district activity, the team continued the trip to Bogor and visited an eel farm company. The group learned the marketing chain from the eel collector, raring the glass eel into a specific size, throw to some small company to develop it into a bigger size. Finally, the eel farm retakes the eels to process becoming a product, such as grilled or fresh product. The owner of small companies who grow the glass eel already got the training and understanding of the standard of operation from the eel farm company. This way is to keep the quality of the products.
From all activities, the researchers know that the anguillid eel resources in Indonesia are in considerable number. During the pandemic, some companies closed, and just a few companies took the eel from the fishers. In additional,, the team can identify that the fishers know how to keep the eels sustainable. It is proven by the friendly-environment fishing gears used for capturing the glass eel in the mouth river and elver in the river.