Culture studies of Umbrina cirrosa were initiated in 1993-94 with wild juveniles. Fish did not reproduce spontaneously and the first attempts to hormonally induce spawning were made. Injection with GnRHa induced spawning in a few fish, resulting in the production of a small number of fry and the development of an F1 broodstock. In subsequent years, the three-year-old broodstock was treated with sustained-release GnRHa-microspheres, which induced two spawns. Fertilized eggs (43 per cent) were stocked (500-l tanks; 23-28 degrees C water temperature). Phytoplankton was supplied 2 days after hatching, and one day later mixed-size rotifers were provided. After day 10-12, artemia or dry feed were also offered, while weaning on industrial feed was completed by day 33. At days 41 and 203, fry weight was 2.0 and 65 g, respectively. Our studies demonstrated that the shi drum has a good survival and growth rate in culture, although natural spawning is still problematic.