近大、ウナギ完全養殖に挑戦＝人工ふ化成功、１０００尾以上成長

　マグロの次はウナギ。クロマグロの完全養殖に世界で初めて成功した近畿大学水産研究所が１日、絶滅が危惧されるニホンウナギの人工ふ化に成功したと発表した。飼育期間は最長５０日に達し、体長約２センチまで成長したという。今後は完全養殖と量産を目指す。
　通常の養殖ウナギから採取した卵と精子を人工授精させてできた受精卵が９～１０月にふ化した。現在、１０００尾以上が餌を食べて成長しているという。体長約５～６センチの稚魚「シラスウナギ」を経て親になり、次の世代を産卵、ふ化する完全養殖のサイクルができるまで、３年程度かかる見通し。（2019/11/01-18:16）

A Kindai University-linked institution said Friday that it has succeeded in artificial incubation of Japanese eels as it aims to attain full-cycle farming and mass production of the endangered species.
   The Osaka-based university's Aquaculture Research Institute artificially fertilized eggs and sperm it collected from cultivated eels. Hatched in September and October, the hatchlings have been raised for a maximum of 50 days, growing to about 2 centimeters in length.
   Over 1,000 hatchlings are being fed, according to the university, which is known to have become the world's first to succeed in the full-cycle farming of bluefin tuna. It is expected to take about three years to establish a full farming cycle for the eel, in which the hatchlings will become adults and produce eggs, the eggs will be hatched and the baby eels will grow.
   Previously, the state-affiliated Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency succeeded in the full-cycle culture of Japanese eels, which had been viewed as difficult as much remains unknown about the biology of the species.
   Until now, however, nobody has made a commercial breakthrough due to the high costs. One fully cultured baby Japanese eel trades at about 5,000 yen, according to the agency.