There are now many introductory courses in aquaculture given at colleges and universities, but there is a lack of appropriate general textbooks for such courses. This book fills that gap by providing a broad and readable overview of the subject. The focus is on aquatic animal production, mainly of finfish and shellfish, but aquatic plants are also mentioned. Both fresh and salt water, warm and cool water, production are covered. The author concentrates on presenting principles, rather than providing detail on how to produce particular organisms, such as shrimp or salmon. He describes all aspects of the subject, from business planning, through site and water systems selection, to management of the system once it is in operation. The interests of both developed and developing countries are covered, as is the current debate about the environmental impact of aquaculture. With extensive lists of references and further reading, this book should serve as an ideal text for introductory courses.