Recent advances in fish pheromone research with emphasis on their potential applications in aquaculture and fishery management

Abstract

Most of the vital activities of fish like alarm communication, individual identification, group cohesion, parent-offspring recognition, territorial markings, sex attraction and synchronization of reproductive processes as well as migration are shaped by pheromones. Our knowledge in this field is still fragmentary because the involvement of pheromones is only known mainly by the behavioural responses; chemically, they are largely unknown. Aspects pertaining to fright reaction and alarm substances, social structure and individual recognition, sex pheromones and fish migration are discussed in this review. Problems associated with chemoreception under environmental pollution have been discussed. Possibilities of utilizing pheromones in advancing maturation and breeding of cultured species as well as in fishery management are also highlighted.