Restocking in CILACAP

As one of main freshwater fish commodities in some area in Indonesia, freshwater eels (Anguila bicolor) received serious pressure in the past few years. Although no concreate evidence is available to show the impact of eel fishing to their natural population, long-term effects from current rate of fisheries practice are likely to be harmful. Minimal intervention in eel fisheries management, combined with vast land-use conversion in various places, make the future of wild eel population become more uncertain.

In order to address this particular issue, FAO, through Fish’s demonstration activities, plans to conduct eel restocking program in Cilacap. Restocking is considered to be a feasible intervention strategy that is relevant and suitable to be applied in Cilacap. It is true that restocking may not solve the more pressing issues come from land-use conversion and insufficient fisheries polices. However, this program may improve eel population in a selected habitat condition in (relatively) short period time and effort. 
Restocking practices may also facilitate as a tool to increase the awareness of local communities, stakeholder, and fisher/aquaculture practitioners about the importance of eel population and sustainable fisheries management. Furthermore, due to various unclear procedure in official eel restocking SOP, IFish can provide a solid, more structured model which can be used as reference to improve the content in official SOP document.
As a preparation process for the stoking program, IFish, together with Balai Riset Pemulihan Sumber Daya Ikan (BRPSDI) and Fisheries Riset Center (PUSRISKAN) conducted field assessments to some river segments which were proposed by Local Fisheries Office as potential sites for eel stocking. The assessment focused on water quality measurement and social-economy aspect of the 
fishers and the related institutional. The result of this assessment will be used by IFish as a reference to determine the most suitable location for eel stocking.