18年持续攻关，上海海洋大学这个团队在鳗鲡人工繁殖研究取得系列进展Eighteen Years of Sustained Effort Leads to Breakthroughs in Artificial Breeding of Eels by Shanghai Ocean University Team

鳗鲡人工繁殖是世界难题，近年来，上海海洋大学水产与生命学院刘利平教授团队在鳗鲡人工繁殖与亲本培育领域取得系列新进展，不仅在全人工海水循环系统育苗方面实现新突破，还在亲本营养调控与性腺发育非损伤性监测等方面获得新成果，进一步展现了学校在鳗鲡人工繁殖研究领域长期深耕形成的技术积累与科研厚度。

Artificial breeding of eels has long been recognized as a global scientific challenge. In recent years, a research team led by Professor Liu Liping from the College of Fisheries and Life Science at Shanghai Ocean University has achieved a series of new advances in eel artificial breeding and broodstock cultivation. These include breakthroughs in larval rearing within fully artificial seawater recirculating systems, as well as progress in broodstock nutritional regulation and non-invasive monitoring of gonadal development, further demonstrating the university’s long-standing expertise and accumulated research capacity in this field.

厚积薄发：18年持续攻关，构建鳗鲡人工繁殖技术基础

From Long-Term Efforts to Breakthroughs: Building the Technological Foundation

上海海洋大学是国内最早开展鳗鲡人工繁殖研究的单位，20世纪70年代，学校即已开展日本鳗鲡促熟研究并获得初孵仔鱼。2008年以来，刘利平教授团队围绕日本鳗鲡人工繁殖关键技术持续攻关，在亲鱼培育、催熟催产、自然产卵诱导、受精卵孵化、仔鱼早期培育、开口饵料优化等方面不断优化，逐步形成了覆盖鳗鲡人工繁殖多个关键环节的技术链条。

Shanghai Ocean University is among the earliest institutions in China to conduct research on eel artificial breeding. As early as the 1970s, the university initiated studies on induced maturation of Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) and successfully obtained newly hatched larvae. Since 2008, Professor Liu’s team has focused on key technologies for artificial breeding, continuously optimizing processes such as broodstock rearing, induced maturation and spawning, natural spawning induction, fertilized egg incubation, early larval rearing, and starter feed optimization. This has led to the gradual establishment of a comprehensive technical system covering multiple critical stages of eel artificial reproduction.

目前，团队已连续多年获得高质量受精卵和初孵仔鱼，部分批次受精率达到96.4%，5日龄仔鱼存活率达到80%。团队将仔鱼培育至21天，为国内至今鳗鲡仔鱼存活最长记录；开展了数十批次饵料实验，并在国内率先获得柳叶鳗前体；现已储备后备亲鱼2000余尾，为后续繁育研究提供了扎实的种质资源基础。

At present, the team has consistently obtained high-quality fertilized eggs and newly hatched larvae over consecutive years. In some batches, fertilization rates have reached 96.4%, with five-day larval survival rates up to 80%. The team has successfully reared larvae to 21 days—currently the longest survival record for eel larvae in China. Dozens of feeding trials have been conducted, and the team has, for the first time domestically, obtained pre-leptocephalus stage larvae. Additionally, more than 2,000 reserve broodstock individuals have been established, providing a solid germplasm foundation for future research.

上海海洋大学鳗鲡人工繁殖研究团队开展亲本培育与繁殖实验

Shanghai Ocean University Eel Artificial Breeding Team Conducts Broodstock Cultivation and Reproduction Experiments

关键突破：全人工海水循环系统实现仔鱼培育新进展

Key Breakthrough: Fully Artificial Seawater Recirculating System

团队利用全人工海水循环系统，对在仿生态条件下培育的日本鳗鲡亲本进行催熟催产、受精卵孵化和仔鱼早期培育研究。通过对温度、盐度、水流、水质等环境因子的综合调控，并结合持续优化的仔鱼开口饵料配方与投喂策略，显著改善了仔鱼摄食表现和发育状态，成功将人工孵化仔鱼稳定培育至柳叶鳗前体阶段，并观察到仔鱼摄食和排泄全过程。

Using a fully artificial seawater recirculating system, the team carried out studies on induced maturation, fertilization, egg incubation, and early larval rearing of Japanese eel broodstock under simulated ecological conditions. By comprehensively regulating environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, water flow, and water quality—combined with optimized starter feed formulations and feeding strategies—the team significantly improved larval feeding performance and developmental status. They successfully reared artificially hatched larvae to the pre-leptocephalus stage and observed the complete processes of feeding and excretion. 

这一进展表明，团队在摆脱天然海水依赖、实现人工繁育环境精准调控方面迈出了重要一步，奠定了在不具备优质海水资源的区域复制和推广鳗鲡人工繁殖技术的潜力。

This achievement marks a critical step toward eliminating reliance on natural seawater and enabling precise control of artificial breeding environments, laying the groundwork for replicating and promoting eel breeding technologies in regions lacking high-quality seawater resources.

 上海海洋大学培育的日本鳗鲡柳叶鳗前体摄食活跃

Pre-Leptocephalus Larvae of Japanese Eel Cultured by Shanghai Ocean University Show Active Feeding

精准调控：亲本营养强化与性腺发育监测取得新成果

Precision Regulation: Advances in Nutrition and Gonadal Monitoring

在亲本培育方面，团队围绕关键营养因子对鳗鲡生殖发育的调控机制开展了系统研究。结果表明，科学的营养强化可协同调节亲本卵黄生成、激素变化及相关基因表达，从而改善其生殖准备状态并提升配子质量。相关成果为获得高质量亲本与受精卵提供了新的技术支撑。

In broodstock cultivation, the team conducted systematic studies on the regulatory mechanisms of key nutritional factors in eel reproductive development. Results indicate that scientifically designed nutritional enhancement can synergistically regulate vitellogenesis, hormonal changes, and gene expression, thereby improving reproductive readiness and gamete quality. These findings provide new technical support for obtaining high-quality broodstock and fertilized eggs.

同时，团队开发了基于皮肤黏液样品的性腺发育非损伤性监测技术。该技术可在不损伤个体的前提下较为有效地反映鳗鲡性腺发育水平，为亲本筛选、发育进程评估和动物福利友好型研究提供了新的技术手段。相关研究成果于年初在《Aquaculture》上发表。

Meanwhile, the team developed a non-invasive gonadal development monitoring technique based on skin mucus samples. This method effectively reflects gonadal development without harming individuals, offering a new tool for broodstock selection, developmental assessment, and animal welfare-friendly research. Related findings were published earlier this year in Aquaculture.

基于营养调控和皮肤黏液样品的性腺发育非损伤性监测技术于2026年2月发表在《Aquaculture》

Non-Invasive Gonadal Development Monitoring Technique Based on Nutritional Regulation and Skin Mucus Sampling Published in Aquaculture in February 2026 

开展全生活史调查：为仔鱼饵料研发提供重要支撑

Full Life-Cycle Investigation: Supporting Larval Feed Development

团队依托上海海洋大学“淞航号”科考平台，连续多年沿鳗鲡洄游路线开展深海调查与样品采集，累计获得野生柳叶鳗状幼体样品42尾，并围绕其肠道菌群、天然食物组成等开展研究，为解析鳗鲡仔鱼天然食性及优化人工开口饵料提供了重要基础数据。

Relying on the university’s research vessel “Songhang”, the team has conducted deep-sea surveys along eel migration routes over multiple years, collecting 42 wild leptocephalus larvae samples. Studies on their gut microbiota and natural diet composition have provided critical baseline data for understanding larval feeding ecology and optimizing artificial starter feeds.

上海海洋大学“淞航号” 在西北太平洋开展鳗鲡全生活史调查

Shanghai Ocean University’s “Songhang” Conducts Full Life-Cycle Survey of Eels in the Northwest Pacific 

服务种业：持续瞄准鳗鲡人工繁殖核心难题

Serving the Industry: Targeting Core Challenges in Breeding

2023年起，上海海洋大学牵头承担农业农村部国家水产育种联合攻关计划——鳗鲡繁育联合攻关任务。近年来，在农业农村部渔业渔政管理局鳗鲡种质资源保存与选育资金的支持下，围绕鳗鲡种质资源保护与人工繁殖关键技术突破，持续承担科研任务并积极参与联合攻关。此次系列进展的取得，不仅为我国日本鳗鲡人工繁殖积累了丰富的研究和实践经验，也为我国鳗鲡种质资源保护、苗种自主培育和产业高质量发展提供有力支持。

Since 2023, Shanghai Ocean University has led a national joint research initiative on eel breeding under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Supported by funding for germplasm conservation and selective breeding, the team has continuously undertaken key research tasks and participated in collaborative efforts. These achievements not only provide valuable experience for artificial breeding of Japanese eel in China but also strongly support germplasm conservation, independent seed production, and high-quality industrial development.

发表于《Aquaculture》的论文第一作者为实验室加纳留学生Justice Frimpong Amankwah，通讯作者为刘利平教授和刘经纬老师。相关研究获得农业农村部政府购买项目、上海市农委科技攻关和上海市科委项目等资助。经过18年的持续积累，团队已围绕鳗鲡人工繁殖方向培养研究生33名，发表相关论文37篇，申请专利11项，逐步形成了结构较为合理、研究方向稳定的科研梯队和持续创新基础。

The first author of the Aquaculture paper is Justice Frimpong Amankwah, an international graduate student from Ghana, with Professor Liu Liping and Dr. Liu Jingwei as corresponding authors. The research was funded by multiple national and municipal programs. Over 18 years, the team has trained 33 graduate students, published 37 papers, and filed 11 patents, forming a well-structured and sustainable research group.