Spotted sand bass, paralabrax maculatofasciatus, larviculture in mexico: current status and perspectives

The spotted sand bass Paralabrax maculatofasciatus is an essential component in the commercial fisheries along the Pacific coast of Mexico. It has been considered as a promising species for seed production under culture conditions, and research have shown that photo-thermal manipulation induces the spotted sand bass broodstock to spontaneously spawn high-quality eggs in captivity almost throughout the year with at least 88% hatching rate. Additionally, larval performance in intensive culture conditions have shown many favorable characteristics like resistance to high rearing densities (50-100 larvae L-1 ), acceptance of rotifer Brachionus plicatilis as first prey, fast developmental rate including a totally functional digestive tract around 16 days after hatching (DAH) and high growth rate reaching the juvenile stage in nearly 35-40 DAH with an 11% survival. In the present review, the main achievements in biological knowledge and culture protocols through larval research of the spotted sand bass during the past 20 years are described, and new research lines and culture parameters towards the establishment of a culture strategy as an economical alternative in the region are proposed.