Although the size, nutritional quality, fecundity, and adaptability of mullet, especially grey mullet (Mugil Cephalus L.), indicate their potential as a major source of animal protein in the world's tropical and subtropical coastal areas, mullet have yet to be successfully bred in captivity. This state-of-the-art report provides a compendium of knowledge on mullet propagation. Given the historical non-intensive cultivation of mullet in the Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Japan, and Hawaii, as well as more recent experiments in intensive mullet cultivation -- the forerunner to any large-scale operation, the authors suggest that pilot mullet hatcheries are now justified. Toward this end, they outline both natural spawning and induced breeding techniques for mullet, including information on broodstock selection, spawning behavior, egg morphology and incubation, induced maturation, larval behavior and nutrition, and postlarval development. Although it appears mullet do not breed in any specific environmental pattern, successful breeding does require a substantial quantity of healthy, sexually mature broodstock; appropriate temperature and photoperiod to influence physiological changes in the pituitary gland and gonads; and artificial conditions to permit the female to develop oocytes beyond tertiary yolk globule stage and to allow the male to complete spermiogenesis. To meet these needs, the authors provide a detailed description of hatchery techniques -- broodstock collection, maintenance, and spawning; fertilization, incubation, and hatching; larval rearing; production of food (photoplankton, rotifer, copepod, amphipod, and brine shrimp); and facility staffing. Requirements for hatchery design -- size, site, materials, construction, and equipment -- are addressed. Although shortages of purified salmon gonadotropin (a hormonal stimulant) and brine shrimp (an important larval food) could constrain future mass production of mullet, the authors remain confident that mullet have the greatest potential of all the marine and brackishwater finfish for becoming humankind's most important supplier of aquatic animal protein. Appended are a l80-item bibliography (l9l6-78), a list of hatchery equipment, and information on a technical training film.