Taranger G. L. auteur aut IRD Carrillo M. auteur aut IRD Schulz R. W. auteur aut IRD Fontaine P. auteur aut IRD Zanuy S. auteur aut IRD Felip A. auteur aut IRD Weltzien F. A. auteur aut IRD Dufour Sylvie auteur aut IRD Karlsen O. auteur aut IRD Norberg B. auteur aut IRD Andersson E. auteur aut IRD Hausen T. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng Puberty comprises the transition from an immature juvenile to a mature adult state of the reproductive system, i.e. the individual becomes capable of reproducing sexually for the first time, which implies functional competence of the brain-pituitary-gonad (BPG) axis. Early puberty is a major problem in many farmed fish species due to negative effects on growth performance, flesh composition, external appearance, behaviour, health, welfare and survival, as well as possible genetic impact on wild populations. Late puberty can also be a problem for broodstock management in some species, while some species completely fail to enter puberty under farming conditions. Age and size at puberty varies between and within species and strains, and are modulated by genetic and environmental factors. Puberty onset is controlled by activation of the BPG axis, and a range of internal and external factors are hypothesised to stimulate and/or modulate this activation such as growth, adiposity, feed intake, photoperiod, temperature and social factors. For example, there is a positive correlation between rapid growth and early puberty in fish. Age at puberty can be controlled by selective breeding or control of photoperiod, feeding or temperature. Monosex stocks can exploit sex dimorphic growth patterns and sterility can be achieved by triploidisation. However, all these techniques have limitations under commercial farming conditions. Further knowledge is needed on both basic and applied aspects of puberty control to refine existing methods and to develop new methods that are efficient in terms of production and acceptable in terms of fish welfare and sustainability. specialized Puberty control Fish farming Brain-pituitary-gonad axis Environmental conditions Genetics Growth Adiposity Sterility Triploids 165 3 483-515 2010 0016-6480 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/PAR00009930 10.1016/j.ygcen.2009.05.004 0016-6480 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/PAR00009930 IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2013-02-20 2017-08-23 PAR00009930 fre