Genetic-population studies in marine fish have allowed to study patterns of dispersal and connectivity between habitats. Oneimportant tool in population genetics is the use of microsatellite molecular markers. Cross-amplification of microsatellite is amethod that consists in using primers designed for one species in a different one but phylogenetically related. Because of theimportance of genetic studies of populations in artisanal fisheries species, primers were evaluated and designed for the species Haemulon aurolineatum and Haemulon steindachneri. Samples were collected from the artisanal fisheries in Barú-Colombia. Amplification was standardized for 12 microsatellites which ten were polymorphic for H. aurolineatum and nine for H. steindachneri. It is considered that the primers implemented in this study are useful for future studies of gene flow in these species.