The Current Status of Brain-Pituitary-Gonad Axis Physiology in Fishes and Its Manipulation during Controlled Reproduction

Abstract

Aquaculture is generally defined as the farming of aquatic organisms, which include fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants, in artificially controlled, intensive culture. Current global population growth, estimated at 1.75% per year world wide by the United Nations, coupled to an increased awareness of safe sources of food and a marked decline in global fisheries, is creating an unprecedented demand for sea food products generated by the aquaculture industry. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has published statistics which indicate that the total volume of captured and cultured fish and seafood for human consumption should reach 114.8 million metric tons in 2020 with 54.8 million metric tons derived from aquaculture enterprises. Demand for fish and fishery products throughout the world continues to expand faster than supplied. Global seafood needs are expected to increase over 60% in the next 30 years. The harvest from wild fisheries is stable or declining; global aquaculture production must increase seven fold in the next 35 years to keep up with the growing human populations’ demand for fishery products. Thus, commercial aquaculture, as a potentially significant component of global food supply, will be a major international growth industry in the 21st century.