Newsletter November 2024

European Union project support
🎉 Glasaal Volendam takes next step toward sustainable eel farming!
October 2024 - Good news! Glasaal Volendam has officially been awarded a subsidy for the project "Sustainable Glass Eel: Accelerate growth of A. anguilla willow leaf larvae to reach glass eel stage". We are thus co-funded by the European Union for the next 3 years. This award within the Innovative Projects in Aquaculture 2024 scheme means a big step forward in our mission: the fully sustainable breeding of European eels.

🔬 From breakthrough to ongoing development
In 2023, we achieved a world first: our eel larvae successfully grew through to the willow leaf stage - a crucial stage in the eel life cycle. This makes us the world leader in eel reproduction. But we're not there yet: the final step, the transformation to glass eel, has never before succeeded (anywhere other than 'in the wild'). Thanks to this grant, we can fully commit to this in the next three years.
🌍 Why this is important
The European eel is critically endangered. The population has declined by more than 95% over the past 50 years. The young glass eels migrating into our rivers from the sea are only a fraction of what they once were. By breeding glass eels in captivity, we can reduce the pressure on the wild population and offer a sustainable alternative for the eel industry.
🤝 Collaboration with Wageningen University
For this project, we are working closely with Wageningen University, Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries. Their expertise in fish nutrition and fish farming is invaluable. Together we are investigating:
- What nutrients eel larvae need at each growth stage
- How to make feed more attractive and digestible
- What the optimal growing conditions are for rapid, healthy growth
🎯 What we want to achieve
The goal is clear: raise glass eels suitable for commercial rearing as well as nature restoration. To that end, we focus on five concrete goals:
Measure enzyme activity - to understand what larvae can digest 2.
Optimize feed system - for better growth and survival 2.
Improve nutritional composition - tailored to each stage of life 3.
Making feed more attractive - with lures, among other things 4.
Sharing results - with growers, NGOs and the general public 5.
📈 Economic as well as ecological perspective
The market for glass eels is large, but supply is limited by catch quotas. Our farmed glass eel offers a sustainable alternative, with potential for both domestic farmers and international markets. In addition, farmed glass eels can be used to restore eel populations in the wild.
💬 Stay tuned
Don't want to miss anything from this groundbreaking project? Follow us at www.volendamglasaal.com and sign up for our newsletter. Together we are working towards a future where eel can be farmed sustainably, responsibly and future-proof.