The positive features of Centropomids and Latids for cultivation are analysed and highlighted. The main life cycle characteristics as well as market prices and demands are presented. Good growth, highly e⁄cient food conversion ratios and energy utilization allow very high biomass yields per unit volume in nursery and grow-out systems. They have shown notable tolerances to main environmental conditions, as well as considerable versatility in adapting to culture systems (cages, ponds and tanks), and culture intensity (extensive, semi-intensive, intensive and superintensive), especially in estuarine and coastal sites and ponds. These positive features provide them with a high culture potential. A general summary of their culture is presented, based on the commercial cultivation of the Asian sea bass or barramundi Lates calcarifer as well as the experimental and pilot-scale results from the main American species. The importance of hatchery fry production as an essential culture pre-requisite is emphasized, in addition to an analysis of the main di⁄culties and constraints for future development.

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The scale‐up of spotted rose snapper, Lutjanus guttatus, larval rearing is described. Fertilized eggs (480,000) were obtained from a 1‐d harvest of a natural spawning captive broodstock acclimatized for 1 yr and 6 mo in two fiberglass tanks (18 m3). Fourteen hours after spawning, 89.6% of the collected eggs were floating, of which 96.2% were transparent with live embryos. Incubation at 25–26 C lasted 21 h, with 90.2 ± 2.1% hatching percentage of normal larvae. The percentage of viable larvae at 48 h after hatching was 79.7 ± 1.9%. Initial stocking density was 10.4 ± 1.0 larvae/L 2 days after hatching (d.p.h.). A total of 22,600 juveniles (1256 ± 170 juveniles/m3) were harvested from six 3‐m3 cylindrical fiberglass tanks. Average survival was 12.1 ± 1.1%. Final mean length and weight were 5.5 ± 0.05 cm and 2.24 ± 0.04 g, respectively. Growth expressed in total length was TL = 2.1476e0.0543t (R2 = 0.9911). Final mean biomass and condition factor were 2.8 kg/m3, 12.3% and 1.346. General length‐weight ratio was W = 0.05460 LT2.2306.

Sexual maturation and induced spawning treatments were carried out with captive spotted rose snapper, Lutjanus guttatus. A total of 3013 × 10 6 eggs (64.7% were floating) were produced from eight treated females in 42 spawns induced with GnRHa implants during the course of the present study. GnRHa ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer effective doses were 204 ± 11 μg/kg in June 2005, and 224 ± 13 μg/kg in July 2005. General fertilization was 50.9 ± 34.5% and 12-14 h after spawning, viability of floating eggs was 90.4 ± 12.4%. Mean incubation period at 29-31 C was 18-20 h, and mean hatching was 94.4 ± 8.2% (73-100%). Newly hatched larvae were 2.18 ± 0.15 mm in total length (TL). One month after the last hormone experiment, previously GnRHa-treated and untreated fish began spawning voluntarily. Hormone-treated breeders had higher fecundity than untreated fish, producing 72.5 million eggs versus 13.9 million eggs for the untreated fish, over the following 11 mo. Combined data of volitional spawning for total egg fertilization, viability, hatching, and larval TL were 77.7 ± 1.8%, 90.3 ± 1.3%, 87.9 ± 2%, and 2.50 ± 0.12 mm, respectively. These results can ensure the sustainability of a commercial hatchery.

This paper provides a brief description of the natural history known of the genus Sphoeroides as an introduction to the biology of Mexican puffer fish Sphoeroides annulatus Jenyns (1842). Studies to determine the culture potential of this species during 11 years are described. At the experimental level, useful advances have been made on S. annulatus and reproductive and rearing husbandry practices together with the nutritional requirement, physiological studies, diseases and control therapies are discussed. The results and findings obtained in the first year of operation of the as‐yet incomplete pilot‐scale facility to a level required for commercial production are also described.