A review on the biology and potential aquaculture of Dentex dentex

A very limited number of scientific studies have been conducted on Dentex dentex in its natural environment yet, over the last decade, this species has been extensively studied in captivity. This sparid fish, highly regarded in many countries of the Mediterranean coasts, has recently been successfully produced, on a trial basis, in Greece, Italy and Spain, and may become a serious candidate for aquaculture. Although the species was first considered as protandric, later studies have characterized Dentex dentex as a gonochoric species with bisexual juvenile phases. In recent times, it has become possible to control and lengthen the spawning period for the purpose of improving production management. Embryonic and larval development has been extensively described, and the assaying of a number of culture conditions and feeding protocols have permitted us to overcome the different stages of larval development. Survival rates, however, are still low and the feeding requirements at each stage, especially during the weaning period, are not clearly defined. Nevertheless, growth rate, both at larval and fattening stages, is high when compared to that of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). In spite of the many studies performed over recent years, the lack of a dry feed precludes exploration of the full growth potential of Dentex dentex under culture conditions. During the larval and juvenile periods, Dentex dentex exhibits aggressive behaviour and high sensitivity to stress, and is prone to high mortality rates due to a number of pathological processes (systemic granuloma, epitheliocystis, vibriosis, etc.).