(to see presentation)

Intensive rearing of Mediterranean marine finfish was initiated in the 1980s and at present, production is characterized by the dominance of two species, the gilt-head sea bream, Sparus aurata and the European sea bass, Dicentrarhus labrax. Over the last 10 years, new candidate species are also added to the list of fish reared in intensively aquaculture conditions. Broodstock management and all-year-round egg production is the basis for an effective aquaculture development of a certain species. Successful broodstock management is based on the (a) selection of appropriate broodfish, (b) adequate organisation of broodstock (size, sex ratio), (c) good husbandry practices (water quality, stocking density, feeding regime and diet, hygiene, prevention of stress), and (d) successful manipulation of environmental factors (temperature, photoperiod).

Year-round availability of eggs, for seabream and seabass, is feasible and good husbandry practices have been established. Genome studies and pilot selective breeding projects have recently been initiated. New methods for reduction of cost for all-year-round egg production, development of methods for sex control of sea-bass, and establishment of a selection breeding programme are of prime importance for increasing the competitiveness of Mediterranean mariculture industry.