Unique High Protein Fish

Eel fish are not familiar with the tongue of Indonesia. However, in Japan, Europe, and America, eel-shaped fish is a favorite food. In addition to high protein, 70 percent, from the literature obtained information, eel fish contain vitamin A for 4700 IU/100 gram as well as two omega 3 fatty acids, namely docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 1337 mg/100 g, and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) 742 mg/100 g. In Indonesia, local consumption is still limited. Commonly used as a tonic. Indonesia has a high potential for fish of 18 species of eel in the world, eight species found in Indonesian waters. Three of them are endemic, found only in the waters of Indonesia, which is kind of Anguilla bicolor bicolor, Anguilla celebensis, and Anguilla borneoensis. Price of fish is quite expensive if exported abroad. Behavior and eel fish has a unique life cycle. Lecturer Department of Biology Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences University of March Solo, Great Budiharjo, who has studied these fish for years, said the fish was born in the deep sea, 200-600 meters below sea level. Soon the mother would die of eel is a freshwater fish. While children are still in the form of eel larvae (Leptocephalus), will follow the drift of sea water. We found fresh water in estuaries, the child began to enter the river eel. The process of the deep ocean to find the mouth of the river takes 2-6 months. "Not all rivers enter, a large majority," said Agung, the beginning of April. He was a lot of research on eel fishing Progo, Yogyakarta. Son of eel-shaped flat glass eel metamorphose into a cylindrical shape like an adult eel, but he was still transparent. Glass eel eel will be mature in seven months while continuing to migrate upstream against the river current. Age 20-35 years for this type of eel Anguilla bicolor bicolor and 40 years for this type of Anguilla marmorata. "I count the ear stone or otolith eels to determine age. Such Otolith rings on a tree, "Agung said the eel examined in 2006-2009 for her dissertation. By the time of reproduction, will return to the sea eel, where he was born. From the estuary to the sea, eel takes two months. After giving birth in the deep ocean, the parent eel will die. "For the cultured eel, which we perceive are the larvae. This fish is only out at night when no moonlight because they do not like light, "said Agung. Export markets Usually in the form of exports of eel fillet (thin slices) eel age of seven months of cultivation. One kilogram of fillets are exported to Japan are generally priced at Rp 140,000. The most preferred type of Anguilla bicolor bicolor because it was tasty and the meat is chewy. According to the Court, no matter how many eels are exported to Japan is always absorbed. Citizens is the biggest eater of eel. In Japan and Europe, eel is almost depleted due to overfishing. Supreme estimates, eel fish in the next 10-15 years will be the belle of exports along with an increasingly open world market. (Eki)