Captive Breeding (Marine)

Captive breeding in the marine context is the controlled spawning and rearing of marine species in a hatchery, producing juveniles for aquaculture grow-out, stock enhancement, or species conservation. Broodstock are conditioned to spawn, eggs are fertilized and hatched, and larvae pass through larviculture on live feeds (rotifers, Artemia) before weaning to formulated diet. Closing the life cycle in captivity removes reliance on wild-caught seed, as achieved for Atlantic bluefin tuna and many shrimp lines. For threatened species, captive breeding supports restocking, though hatchery-reared juveniles can carry reduced genetic diversity that managers monitor.