Book excerpt: This book presents the biology, culture techniques, research and development, and future of the fishery of some of the most important bivalve mollusks cultured throughout the world. The book emphasizes those species that are truly cultured during some part of their life cycle rather than those that are harvested from natural populations. Graphs and figures summarize fisheries information and provide quick access to important production figures. Species covered include oysters, soft-shell and hard-shell clams, scallops, mussels, pearl oysters, razor clams, cockles and giant clams. Geographic areas featured include United States, Mexico, South and Central America, Europe, India, Japan, China, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and the coral atolls of the Pacific Ocean. Estuarine and Marine Bivalve Mollusk Culture brings together the lifetime efforts of the late Dr. Winston Menzel to characterize and improve bivalve mollusk culture worldwide. Aquaculturalists, private oyster and bivalve culturalists, and fisheries scientists will find this book to be an invaluable guide to bivalve mollusk culture.