Tilapia culture in coastal waters and in saline brackish water in arid areas has been inhibited by inadequate research on tilapia biology and culture with respect to salinity tolerance. This study presents a preliminary evaluation of the utility of several approaches of early salinity exposure for saltwater tilapia culture. The reproductive performance of the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) was monitored under laboratory conditions at various salinities and the salinity tolerance of progeny determined. Survivorship of fertilized eggs, spawned in freshwater but removed from the mouth of the parent female and artificially incubated at various salinities, was evaluated and the salinity tolerance of resultant fry determined. The salinity tolerance of fry spawned and hatched in freshwater but subsequently acclimatized to various salinities was also determined. Finally, the salinity tolerances of fry subjected to these various methods of early exposure were compared. Findings are discussed in detail. Ten figures and a 31-item list of references (1940-83) are included. (Author abstract, modified).