Eel reproduction is an enduring mystery. Aristotle theorized they spontaneously generated from mud. Sigmund Freud dissected hundreds of eels in a vain search for their reproductive organs. 

Today we know this much: they swim as tiny transparent glass eels from the ocean into estuaries. They spend their adult lives in freshwater and return to sea at sexual maturity. Nobody knows exactly where in the Sargasso Sea they spawn—the adults never return. While the mystery lives on, a few farmers have cracked the code on how to grow American eels sustainably.

Founder and CEO of American Unagi, Sara Rademaker, is working to bring sustainable jobs, and delicious eels, to Maine. American Unagi is one of just a handful of American farms growing eels on a commercial scale. 

“Maine is a state whose economy depends heavily on its natural resources,” said Rademaker. “When thinking about the future of Maine fisheries and how to support local communities, our farm presents a unique opportunity to build even more resiliency into our local systems by creating jobs and supporting the eel fishery.” 

Check out the link for more great aquaculture stories from across the nation: 

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/celebrating-aquaculture-week-farming-tide-table