SIGNIFICANCE OF LARVAL AND JUVENILE ECOPHYSIOLOGY FOR STOCK ENHANCEMENT OF THE JAPANESE FLOUNDER, PARALICHTHYS-OLIVACEUS

In 1994, more than 30 yrs after their first successful rearing through metamorphosis, the number of juveniles of the Japanese flounder (Para lichthys olivaceus) released to the sea exceeded that of the red sea b ream (Pagrus major), the pioneer species in marine fish stock enhancem ent in Japan. Many features of the Japanese flounder make it a promisi ng species for marine stock enhancement, but many problems must still be solved before further advances are possible. Of particular importan ce are the effects of temperature on growth and development, developme ntal endocrinology differences between reared and wild juveniles in ph ysiology and behavior, and the relationship between physiology and eco logy.