Reproduction of the cultured brood fish: chap. 32
Résumé
This chapter describes the last management procedure applied to the brood fish. There are five steps, from the staging of sexual maturation advancement to the embryogenesis survey, i.e., in the last 2 months prior to spawning. Results are reported for the few oldest fish (born between 1981 and 1988 in the wild), composed mainly of males (only one female) that have been reconditioned, and the two youngest year classes (1994 and 1995). The oldest males exhibited very heterogeneous maturation figures, with a 2-year maturation occurring most frequently. Partial maturations in several females are reported, possibly due to inappropriate rearing conditions, namely temperature regime, which was later changed. Precocious reproductive successes were obtained with 13-year-old males and females whatever the year class of younger fish. There are suggestions of a 2-year recurring cycle in females. New indications are given for improving the prediction power of the in vitro maturation test.