Induced Spawning of the Fat Snook, Centropomus parallelus Poey, 1860 (Perciformes: Centropomidae), via the Application of the Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)

Abstract

The fat snook (Centropomus parallelus), a catadromous species highly valued for human consumption, is widely distributed along the Atlantic coast of the American continent, from the United States to Brazil. In Mexico, it is common in the waters off the coastal states of the Gulf of Mexico, particularly Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco and Campeche. As it is important to ensure maturation and reproduction during cultivation under controlled conditions, given that this is inhibited in captivity, the spawning of the Centropomus parallelus was induced in the present study using a dose of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Advanced gonad maturity was observed, while two females in a vitellogenic state reached final maturation with the application of a 50 μg/kg dose of the hormone and the male subjects failed to present spermiation under the application of the same dose.