Book excerpt: The FAO Yearbook of Fishery Statistics - Capture production is a compilation of statistics on nominal catches of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic animals, residues and plants. The statistics are presented by country or territory, species, major fishing area and year, and for various aggregations. In order to provide complete coverage of catch statistics throughout the world, where officially reported national statistics are lacking or are considered unreliable, FAO makes estimates based on the best information available.