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Improving the management of commercial giant mottled eel Anguilla marmorata aquaculture in Taiwan for improved productivity: a bioeconomic analysis

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Abstract

A multivariate statistical analysis was conducted with the aim to identify the key factors affecting the profitability of commercial aquaculture of the giant mottled eel Anguilla marmorata on Taiwan. The results revealed significant differences between the different fish farming systems used on Taiwan in terms of sustainable and profitable commercial enterprise. In terms of production costs, the water circulation systems accounts for the highest costs in water production, and feed costs account for 82.3 % of the total production cost. However, the survival rate is low, about of 20–30 %. Eels were cultured for 2–3 years before a market profit was reached. The farming system in the eastern region of Taiwan had the lowest production cost. The benefit–cost ratio of the concrete pond in the central region of Taiwan and the soil pond in the eastern part of Taiwan was the highest, at about 2.6, and profitability was relatively good; however, the farming cycle is longer and the production risk is higher. These results also show that the survival rate is significantly correlated to production efficiency. Consequently, based on our analysis, we suggest that strengthening cultivation techniques, appropriately increasing stocking density and segmenting glass eels farming in terms of nursery rearing and grow-out will reduce the production risk and enhance the profitability of the industry.

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Acknowledgments

The research on which this report is based was financed by a grant from the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan of the Republic of China under project number 102AS-11.3.1-FA-F3. The authors would also like to thank the farmers for participating in the interviews and for providing valuable information on giant mottled eel farming. The authors wish to express their sincere gratitude to the anonymous reviewers whose valuable suggestions greatly improved this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aquaculture, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, 202, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Cheng-Ting Huang, Jun-Ting Chiou, Hieu Truong Khac & Shin-Chang Chen

  2. Taiwan Fisheries Economic Development Association, Keelung, 202, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Yao-Jen Hsiao

  3. Center of Excellence of the Ocean, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, 202, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Cheng-Ting Huang

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  1. Cheng-Ting Huang
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Correspondence to Cheng-Ting Huang.

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Huang, CT., Chiou, JT., Khac, H.T. et al. Improving the management of commercial giant mottled eel Anguilla marmorata aquaculture in Taiwan for improved productivity: a bioeconomic analysis. Fish Sci 82, 95–111 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-015-0934-z

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