Book excerpt: The importance of aquaculture is now established, in the context of global food production, aquatic resource management and socioeconomic development of rural areas. Remarkable advances are being achieved on an increasing scale, and development and donor agencies now consider aquaculture to be a priority area. Aquaculture has become a prime subject for research internationally and it is expected to overtake capture as a source of several high-valued species of fish and shellfish within a decade or so. This major work by a leading world authority is now available in paperback and will become THE major text for students of aquaculture It is fully comprehensive and covers all aspects of aquaculture, including all the major species of fish, shellfish and edible seaweed.