Sex steroids for gender identification in red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus

摘要

The red drum Sciaenops ocellatus, commonly referred to as redfish, is a valuable asset to the fish culture industry because of its desirable characteristics in aquaculture, including its euryhaline nature, responsiveness to reproductive cycle control,fast growth displayed under culture conditions and established consumer market. After a decline in the 1990s, the commercial red drum culture industry is re-emerging. More careful consideration of site selection and research into growout are helping tomake private operations more viable (Lutz 1999). Currently, in the United States there are commercial farms in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida (Lee 1997). Additionally, to fill the current market demand for the product, red drum culture technology has spread from the United States to other parts of the world.