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The Eurasian perch and the pikeperch, two percid fish species, are new freshwater species in the field of aquaculture (except in pond polyculture). During the last decade, much research work has been made in order to develop their culture. They have been mainly realized in the framework of European collaborations funded by EU programs (FAIR-CT96-1572, FAIR-CT98-9241, Acrapep Q5CR-2001-70594). Since 1993, research and development actions have dealt mainly with the understanding of the environmental determinism of the reproductive cycle, the development of a programme for spawning synchronisation, the adaptation of the larval rearing techniques and the control of growth heterogeneity and cannibalism, the evaluation of the quantitative and qualitative nutritional requirements in relation with growth performances, the development of techniques for the production of perch populations with improved potentialities (genetic improvement and strain selection), notably in term of growth and finally, the assessment of the effects of breeding conditions on the quality of the products.

In this context, some private investors have progressively elaborated projects of percid culture. Currently, several fish farms producing Eurasian perch (Ep) or pikeperch (pp) have been built in Europe and managed as pilot farms : EARL Esox (Ep, pp) and SARL Lucas-Perches (Ep) in France, Bornholms Hatchery (Ep) in Denmark, PDS Irish Waters Perch Ltd (Ep) in Ireland and Philipsen Aquacultuur Horst CV (pp) in Netherlands. These farms mainly use water recirculation systems.

The development of the activities of these farms is highly dependent on the supply of high quality juveniles, a position that must be secured.

Dr. Pascal Fontaine obtained his PhD degree in 1994 (thesis : application of aquariological techniques to an intensive fish-rearing process using recycled water, INPL). Since 1994, he has focused his research activity on diversification in freshwater aquaculture and domestication of new species, mainly using Eurasian perch as model. He has been involved as both coordinator and participant in numerous European research projects. Since 1999, he has also been a teacher at the University Henri Poincaré and responsible for a 'Professional' degree (Undergraduate) in freshwater aquaculture and aquariology.

Contact details: Laboratoire de Sciences Animales, INRA – INPL – UHP Nancy 1, MAN, 34 rue Sainte Catherine, F – 54000 Nancy, France. Phone: + 33 3 83 30 28 41 and Fax: + 33-3-83 32 30 16. 
E-mail: pascal.fontaine@lsa-man.uhp-nancy.fr