Enhancement and release of Larimichthys crocea has become more and more important because of continualdecline in its resources. The traditional method of marking was not suitable for the larvae of Larimichthyscrocea. In order to effectively evaluate itseffect of the enhancement, it has been a top priority to build a scalemethod of marking which is suitable for the larvae of Larimichthys crocea. The paper studied the effects of hexahydratestrontium chloride on otolith marking, growth and survival of Larimichthys crocea, aiming to improve theapplicability of this marking technique in tracing Larimichthys crocea for a better evaluating of its effect of theenhancement. The experiment selected 4 groups’ the larvae of Larimichthys crocea that were hatchery-reared, eachgroup had 2000 larvae of Larimichthys crocea. Two groups were immersed by hexahydrate strontium chloride, andothers were used as control groups. Before the experiment, we respectively selected 50 larvae in 4 groups to comparetheir difference of body length and body weight. During the experiment, we recorded the number of deathsper day so that we compared their difference of survival rate. After they were experimented 7 d and 50 d, we randomlyselected 15 larvae in 4 groups, respectively. We compared their difference of growth by biological determination,and we used laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to analyze theotolith of strontium distribution features. The results showed that fish exposed to increased levels of strontium hadhigher strontium-calcium ratio in the given part of the otolith relative to those of control and wild fish. Thehigher strontium-calcium ratio in the given part of the otolith was located by 0.65 to 0.80 mm far away from thecore area of the otolith. The strontium-calcium ratios in the given part of the otolith for the marked, control andwild fish were (3.58±1.09) mmol/mol, (1.73±0.08) mmol/mol, and (1.09±0.35) mmol/mol, respectively. They hadextremely significant difference (P<0.01). The higher otolith strontium-calcium ratio could be used as elementalfingerprint in identifying marked fish. In addition, there were no significant difference in survival rate amongmarked and control fishes by the statistical test (P>0.05), indicating that immersion in water enriched in strontiumdid not negatively affect the survival rate of marked fish. In terms of growth, after experimented for 7 d, the averageof body length and body weight of marking group and control group were (19.43±2.67) mm and (0.11±0.05) g,and (19.64±1.99) mm and (0.12±0.04) g, respectively. After experimented for 50 d the average of body length andbody weight of marking group and control group were (44.76±4.15) mm, (1.82±0.55) g, and (43.26±4.71) mm,(1.62±0.53) g, respectively. The body length, body weight and their relationship were tested according to statisticalmethods. We found that there were no significant difference (P>0.05), implying that strontium did not negativelyaffect the growth of marked fish. Our results suggested that immersion in water enriched with strontiumcould be an effective means of marking hatchery-reared Larimichthys croceafor stock enhancement. The meanscould provide solid fundament for the evaluation about scientific and reasonable enhancement and release.