• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.294-303
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• 2023

Beside that the fish species and their sub-populations are highly important as a keystone species in the coastal and marine ecosystem, there are very few studies on their presence, distribution and temporal variations within and around the lagoon ecosystems in Albania. This paper provides an updated review on the life cycle, fishery, exploitation state and management of the main species that are subject of commercial fishing in the Karavasta lagoon, southeastern Adriatic coast of Albania. Due to the fact that lagoons represent a continuum between continental and marine aquatic ecosystems they play a crucial role in species life cycles. Further on in the circumstances of rapid utilizations and environmental changes, anomalies in salinity and temperatures, accelerated anthropogenic influences their rate of vulnerability is highly increased. Following the requirements of the Water Framework Directive, transitional water, coastal lagoons and estuaries there is a need for urgent monitoring and management approaches. The commercial species include: European eel (Anguilla anguilla), species of Family Mugilidae (Mugil cephalus, Liza ramada, Liza salienes and Chelon labrosus), Seabream (Sparus aurata), Seabass (Dincentrarchus labrax), etc. Fish productivity is oscillating from maximum value of 61.95 kg/ha is recorded in period of 1975-80 and lower value of 31 kg/ha in year 2020. Our study highlights importance of fish and fishery long-term monitoring, and contributes to understand the driving factors in productivity, migration patterns and species ecology in the vital coastal ecosystems.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.287-292
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• 2023

This study investigated the genetic determinants of plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance (PMAR) to quinolones and tetracycline in 106 Aeromonas strains isolated from eel (Anguilla japonica, 70 strains) and ornamental fish (36 strains) in Korea. Quinolones and tetracycline resistance phenotypes were found to be widely distributed throughout the both fish groups. However, the prevalence of qnr and tet genes was higher in ornamental fish strains than in eel strains (42.9% vs. 86.1% for qnr and 51.4% vs. 69.4% for tet). In addition, the profiling of the present genetic determinants revealed the dominance of qnrS, tetA, tetE and tetE+qnrS genes for eel strains but of tetA+qnrS qnrS and tetE+qnrS genes for ornamental fish strains. These results indicate that aquaculture and related industries could be a major threat to public health due to the possible spread of PMAR.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.219-225
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• 2007

This study investigated the correlationship between artificial maturation season and reproduction coefficient of cultured eel Anguilla japonica from May (spring) to next January (winter). The brood stock, female eels ($400{\sim}600\;g$) were artificially matured by weekly intramuscular injections of salmon pituitary extracts (SPE, 20 mg/fish) to induce a completion of vitellogenesis. After completion of vitellogenesis, final oocyte maturation and ovulation was induced by injection of $17{\alpha}$, $20{\beta}-dihydroxyprogesterone$ (DHP) at about $2\;{\mu}g/g$ body weight. Most fish ovulated $15{\sim}18\;h$ following the DHP injection. The ovulated fish were induced to natural spawning or artificial fertilization by the dry method. Males ($200{\sim}350\;g$) were received weekly intramuscular injections of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) at a dosage of 1 IU/g body weight to induce testicular maturation and spermiation. Seasonal reproduction coefficient which includes the rate of ovulation, buoyancy, fertilization and hatching of eggs in the artificially matured eel during spring to summer ($May{\sim}July$) were significantly higher than the other season, while there were no significant difference among spring and summer (P<0.05). Furthermore, the number of eggs spawned and larvae hatched in the artificially maturated eel during spring to summer ($May{\sim}July$) were significantly higher than the other season, while there were no significant difference in spring and summer (P<0.05). These results indicate that artificial maturation by hormone treatment of A. japonica was successful only during spring to summer, which is the maturation period in the wild stock in nature. Consequently, it is possible to determine the period of artificially induced sexual maturity by the reproduction coefficient which includes the rate of ovulation, buoyancy, fertilization and hatching of eggs in the cultured eel A. japonica.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2008

This study investigated the synergistic effects of dietary supplementation of quartz porphyry(QP) and a laboratory developed feed stimulants, BAISM(BS) on growth performance and utilization as the additives for juvenile eel Anguilla japonica. Six isoenergetic experimental diets(18.2 kJ/g) were formulated to contain 50% crude protein, 15% lipid with or without dietary QP(Song-Gang stone, Davistone, Korea) and BS supplementation. QP and BS were provided at 0% in the control diet($Q_0B_0$) and at 0.7% QP+0% BS($Q_{0.7}B_0$), 0.7% QP+0.3% BS($Q_{0.7}B_{0.3}$), 0.7% QP+0.5% BS($Q_{0.7}B_{0.5}$), 0.7% QP+0.75% BS($Q_{0.7}B_{0.75}$) and 0.7% QP+1.0% BS($Q_{0.7}B_{1.0}$) in experimental diets on dry matter basis. After four weeks of adaptation, triplicate groups of 30 fish initially averaging $15{\pm}0.1g(mean{\pm}SD)$ were randomly distributed into each aquarium, and they were fed one of the experimental diets for 8 weeks. By the end of the feeding trial, weight gain(%), specific growth rate(%), feed efficiency(%) and protein efficiency ratio of fish fed diet $Q_{0.7}B_{0.5},\;Q_{0.7}B_{0.75}\;and\;Q_{0.7}B_{1.0}$, were significantly higher(P<0.05) than those of fish fed the other diets. But, $Q_{0.7}B_{0.5},\;Q_{0.7}B_{0.75}\;and\;Q_{0.7}B_{1.0}$ were no significant differences(P<0.05). In challenge test, fish were infected by intraperitoneal injection of 0.1 mL bacterial suspension with Edwardsiella tarda per fish after the feeding trial. As a result, fish fed QP and BS supplemented diets have a significantly higher cumulative survival rate than those of fish fed control diet(P<0.05). In conclusion, these results indicated that the optimum dietary supplementation level of QP and BS could be approximately 0.7% quartz porphyry+0.5% BAISM($Q_{0.7}B_{0.5}$) of diet based on WG, FER, SGR, PER, cumulative survival rate in juvenile eel A. japonica.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.853-860
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• 2011

We measured blood plasma parameters(cortisol, glucose, albumin) and glucocorticoid receptor(GCR) gene expression level of the Japanese eel(Anguilla japonica) exposed to an explosion noise for an hour in order to evaluate the effects of noise stress and to explore the possibility of these parameters as biomarkers on noise stress for one of this valuable aquaculture species. Plasma cortisol and glucose reached high levels with significant differences compared to the control group, whereas albumin showed a low value after 1 h of exposure. In addition, tissue distribution of GCR gene expression was studied by real-time RT-PCR of ten organs(brain, eye, gill, gonad, heart, intestine, kidney, liver, muscle and skin). Liver showed the highest level of expression in the control followed by gill, muscle and intestine. A time-course study revealed induction in liver, gill, muscle and intestine after 30 min or 1 h of noise exposure.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.508-514
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• 2010

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6) levels on growth performance and body composition in juvenile eel, Anguilla japonica. Six semi-purified experimental diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and iso-caloric containing 55.0% crude protein and 15% crude lipid (18.3 kJ of available energy $g^{-1}$). Six different levels of AA were added to the basal diet, with 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 or 1.2% on a dry matter (DM) basis, respectively ($AA_{0.07},\;AA_{0.22},\;AA_{0.43},\;AA_{0.57},\;AA_{0.78}\;or\;AA_{1.23}$). After a conditioning period, fish initially averaging 27${\pm}$0.5 g (mean${\pm}$SD) were randomly distributed into each aquarium as triplicate groups of 20 fish each. One of six experimental diets was fed on a DM basis to fish in three randomly selected aquaria at a rate of 2-3% of total body weight twice a day. At the end of the 12-week feeding trial, weight gain (WG) and feed efficiency (FE) of fish fed $AA_{0.78}$ and $AA_{1.23}$ diets were significantly higher than of fish fed $AA_{0.07},\;AA_{0.22},\;AA_{0.43}$ diets (p<0.05). Specific growth rate (SGR) of fish fed the $AA_{0.78}$ diet was significantly higher than of fish fed $AA_{0.07},\;AA_{0.22},\;AA_{0.43}$ diets (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in WG, SGR and FE among fish fed $AA_{0.57},\;AA_{0.78}\;or\;AA_{1.23}$ diets (p>0.05). Whole body AA deposition of fish fed the $AA_{1.23}$ diet was significantly higher than for the other diets (p<0.05). Broken-line model analysis on the basis of WG and SGR indicated that the dietary AA requirement could be greater than 0.69% but less than 0.71% of the diet in juvenile eel. The growth-promoting activity of AA observed in the present study provides strong support for the contention that dietary AA is essential for juvenile eel.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.1661-1667
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Quality characteristics, and was conducted to develope consumer preference of the frozen ready prepared eels by cooking method between 100 Korean (male 48, female 52) and 105 Japanese (male 43, female 62) who visited Korea. The consumers' responses about frozen ready prepared eels were measured on 9 point likert scale. In the preference test of cooking method for ready prepared eel, the Japanese and Korean preferred gas grill products in conger eel. Charcoal grill for Anguilla japonica products was estimated the most preferred cooking method by Japanese. In comparison between Japanese and Korean, Korean preferred more gas grill products than charcoal grill in Anguillajaponica products. The results for this factor were very significantly different in relation to appearance and overall acceptance of sensory characteristics (p<0.0l). The steaming products was estimated to be more delicious by Japanese than Korean. The results for this steaming products were very significantly different in evaluation of appearance, taste and overall acceptability between Japanese and Korean (p<0.05 or p<0.0l). In the domestic consumer test, the overall acceptability of eel product with ginseng and pine mushroom were 6.84 and 5.56 respectively. In the Japanese consumer test, the overall acceptability of eel product with ginseng and pine mushroom were 5.62 and 6.49 respectively. Consequently, Korea consumer preferred gas grill method for both conger eel and Anguilla japonica products added by ginseng flavor in sauce. Japanese preferred gas grill method for conger eel, charcoal grill method for Anguilla jap on ica added by pine mushroom flavor in sauce. Therefore, it is needed to study for the development of conger eel's sauce and cooking method proper to preference of Korean and Japanese in foodservice operations.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.98-103
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• 2012

This study was conducted to re-evaluate the dietary vitamin C requirement in juvenile eel, Anguilla japonica by using L-ascorbyl-2-monophosphate (AMP) as the vitamin C source. Five semi-purified experimental diets were formulated to contain 0 ($AMP_0$), 30 ($AMP_{24}$), 60 ($AMP_{52}$), 120 ($AMP_{108}$) and 1,200 ($AMP_{1137}$) mg AMP $kg^{-1}$ diet on a dry matter basis. Casein and defatted fish meal were used as the main protein sources in the semi-purified experimental diets. After a 4-week conditioning period, fish initially averaging $15{\pm}0.3$ g (mean${\pm}$SD) were randomly distributed to each aquarium as triplicate groups of 20 fish each. One of five experimental diets was fed on a DM basis to fish in three randomly selected aquaria, at a rate of 3% of total body weight, twice a day. At the end of the feeding trial, weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) for fish fed $AMP_{52}$ and $AMP_{108}$ were significantly higher than those recorded for fish fed the control diet (p<0.05). Similarly, feed efficiency (FE) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) for fish fed $AMP_{52}$ were significantly higher than those for fish fed the control diet (p<0.05). Broken-line regression analysis on the basis of WG, SGR, FE and PER showed dietary vitamin C requirements of juvenile eel to be 41.1, 41.2, 43.9 and 43.1 (mg $kg^{-1}$ diet), respectively. These results indicated that the dietary vitamin C requirement could range from 41.1 to 43.9 mg $kg^{-1}$ diet in juvenile eel when L-ascorbyl-2-monophosphate was used as the dietary source of vitamin C.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.210-219
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• 2008

Monthly variation in species composition of upstream-migrating fish in the Cheonjeyeon Estuary was determined by analyzing fish data collected January~September 2004 and January~August 2007. Fish migrating from the sea to freshwater through the channels were collected by a rectangular net with a mesh size of 2 mm during the day and at night in the new moon. Of 14 species collected, ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis) and mullet (Mugil cephalus) predominated in abundance. Glass eels (Anguilla japonica) occurred mainly during the night from February to May. Other fishes collected included brackish-water gobiids (Gymnogobius urotaenia, Rhinogobius giurinus, Tridentiger obscurus, and Sicyopterus japonicus), freshwater fishes (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus and Rhynchocypris oxycephalus), and coastal marine fishes (Engraulis japonicus, Pempheris japonica, Plotosus lineatus, Takifugu niphobles, and Terapon jarbua). Ayu occurred during almost all sampling periods. They ranged principally from 55 to 100 mm total length (TL), with some fish larger than 100 mm TL collected after April. Mullet also occurred during almost all sampling periods. They ranged principally 25~58 mm TL, with some larger fish of 103~240 mm TL collected in February and April. That only a few freshwater and brackish-water fishes occurred in the study area is probably related to the freshwater systems having long been isolated from the continental systems and to the poorly developed estuaries in Jeju Island reflecting limited river discharge.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.943-951
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• 2011

We investigated the effects of temperature changes on the oxygen consumption rhythm in Japanese eels, Anguilla japonica, using an automatic intermittent flow respirometer (AIFR). The endogenous rhythm of the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) in the eels (n = 18; 44-74 cm, 145-690 g), freshly collected by bag net from estuaries, was nearly synchronous with the tidal pattern of the estuarine collection site. The magnitude of mean OCR (mOCR) of eels showed variable range of 82.2 - 116.5 ml $O_2\;kg^{-1}ww \;h^{-1}$ under constant conditions. In case of increasing temperature from 25 to $38^{\circ}C$, the OCR of eels exhibited a gradually increasing trend with a rhythmic pattern until $36^{\circ}C$. Above $36^{\circ}C$ the rhythms of the OCR dampened and the OCR decreased rapidly at around $36-37^{\circ}C$. The OCR of the eels exhibited the maximum value at $38^{\circ}C$, and then it sharply decreased. The results suggested that the critical thermal maximum (CTM) regarding the endogenous rhythms of the eels was at around $36-37^{\circ}C$ when water temperature increased at $0.5^{\circ}C$/14 h following the acclimation at $25^{\circ}C$. In case of decreasing temperature ($0.5^{\circ}C$/14 h) from 25 to $0^{\circ}C$, the OCR of the eels displayed a abrupt decrease up to $23^{\circ}C$, and between at 23 and $20^{\circ}C$, there was an agitation which showed a slight increase in the OCR with a duration of 1-2 days. Below $9^{\circ}C$, the OCR rhythm of the eels showed a constant state regardless of temperature decreasing. These results suggest that the Japanese eel has an upper incipient lethal temperature at $36^{\circ}C$, with a lower thermal limit at $9^{\circ}C$. The biochemical aspects of the eels influenced by water temperature need to be further studied.