The preliminary results of the trials, which were conducted over two seasons, are reported here. In trial 1, during the first season, semen of gilthead seabream was cryopreserved in cryovials using a programmable cooler. In trial 2, in the second season, gilthead semen was cryopreserved in 0.5 ml straws and cooled on a rack at a fixed distance from LN2. In trial 2 it was possible to conduct fertility trials. Results were positive in trial 1 with high motility scores of sperm after cryopreservation with DMSO and NaCl 1 per cent in the proportion 10:15:75 v per v. In trial 2 the fertilizing ability of cryopreserved semen was demonstrated with significantly (P less than 0.05) different results in relation to gametes contact time of 5 and 10 min. For sharpsnout seabream, the methods employed were similar to those used in trial 1 for gilthead seabream, but the results were poorer. The spermatozoa that survived to cryopreservation had low motility scores. A reliable cryopreservation protocol for the semen of this species is to be reached afterwards.