MANIPULATION OF REPRODUCTION IN FARMED FISH

The production of fish by aquaculture has increased rapidly in recent years, An important factor in this growth has been the application of controlled reproduction biotechnologies, Recent progress in the develo pment of induced ovulation and spermiation technologies has facilitate d the reproduction of many commercial species. The use of a variety of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues with or without dopamine ant agonists is replacing the use of pituitary preparations, Current resea rch is focused on optimal administration techniques utilizing intramus cular, intraperitoneal and oral routes. Sex control technologies have also seen rapid development and application in salmonids and tilapias, as a means of increasing both production efficiency and reproductive containment, Gender control will be applied in the near future to othe r farmed species including flatfish and seabass. The most effective te chniques involve the production of monosex gametes by either endocrine manipulation during early development or a combination of endocrine a nd genetic technologies.