Interaction “nutrition-reproduction” in fish

In wild fish, gonad maturation and spawning induce modifications in feeding behaviour and dynamics of body stores which are possibly responsible for metabolic disorders. Conversely, food manipulations can modify reproduction of captive female broodstock. A restricted diet during early stages of the life cycle delays the first maturation age, a quantitatively restricted food supply during the stages of oocyte differentiation reduces the egg number, while a reduction of food levels during the last phases of oogenesis has only a small effect on egg size, composition and hatchability. During the spawning period, salmonid female broodstock seem to be more able to utilize carbohydrates than immature fish, they valorize the energy brought in by fats and have low quantitative requirements for proteins (28%). On the other hand, Red Sea bream broodstock have higher needs for proteins (45%).The incorporation into diet of liposoluble vitamins and essential fatty acids is necessary for normal reproduction, but (n-6) fatty acids seem to play a more important role than in juveniles. Although the effects and physiological role of carotenoids are not yet well known in salmonids, they are necessary for normal development in Red Sea bream. Although little work has been done on the effects of mineral nutrition, special attention must be paid to trace elements, manganese in particular.The major part of this review concerns female broodstock, since very little interest has been devoted to males.