Belut (Monopterus albus) merupakan ikan air tawar konsumsi hasil tangkapan dari perairan umum yang dijual dalam keadaan hidup dengan harga tinggi dan permintaan yang terus meningkat. Aktivitas penangkapan, transportasi, dan penampungan menimbulkan kematian yang cukup banyak sehingga mengurangi stok dan nilai penerimaan penjualan belut. Penanganan belut pasca-penangkapan dalam air salin dapat menekan tingkat kematian belut, namun dampaknya terhadap keuntungan bisnis belum diketahui. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi penampungan dalam air salin terhadap sintasan dan keuntungan usaha penjualan belut hidup. Penelitian dilakukan pada pedagang besar belut hidup di Jawa Tengah yang memperoleh pasokan belut dari berbagai lokasi di Jawa. Belut uji yang diperoleh dari tiga lokasi yaitu Ciamis, Jawa Barat; Cilacap, Jawa Tengah; dan Lumajang, Jawa Timur; masing-masing ditampung terpisah dan dipelihara selama enam hari dalam air tawar (salinitas 0 g/L) dan air tawar yang ditambah garam krosok pada konsentrasi 6 g/L. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa penampungan selama seminggu dalam salinitas 6 g/L menghasilkan tingkat sintasan belut 1,6 kali dibandingkan dengan penampungan dalam air tawar pada semua lokasi asal belut. Sintasan yang lebih tinggi tersebut meningkatkan nilai penerimaan dan keuntungan usaha.Asian swamp eel (Monopterus albus) is a highly-priced freshwater fish collected from natural waters and sold alive in the market with an ever-increasing demand. Fishing methods, transportation, and holding of live eels before being sold frequently result in significant mortality, which eventually reduces the sales revenue from the business. However, post-capture handling of the eel using saline water could reduce the mortality rate, but the impact on business profits has never been determined. This study was aimed to determine the effects of water salinity on the survival of the eels during the holding period and calculate the profit gain from live eel sales. The research was carried out in the facility of a wholesaler of live Asian swamp eel in Central Java which received eel supply from various locations in Java. The samples of eels were originated from three locations, namely Ciamis, West Java; Cilacap, Central Java; and Lumajang, East Java. The eels were placed in separate containers filled with: fresh water (salinity 0 g/L) and freshwater added with salt at concentration 6 g/L for six days. The results showed that six days holding period in salinity of 6 g/L resulted in a higher survival rate of the eels up to 1.6 times compared to the freshwater. This higher survival has increased the revenues and profitability of the live eels sales.
Review about the importance of skin mucus from asian swamp eel (Monopterus albus)