The output from world aquaculture, a multi--billion dollar global industry, continues to rise at a very rapid rate and it is now acknowledged that it will take over from fisheries to become the main source of animal and plant products from aquatic environments. This exciting, new and comprehensive book covers all major aspects of the aquaculture of fish, shellfish and algae in freshwater and marine environments. Subject areas covered include water quality and environmental impacts of aquaculture, desert aquaculture, reproduction, life cycles and growth, genetics and stock improvement, nutrition and feed production, diseases, post--harvest technology and processing, economics and marketing. Separate chapters also cover the culture of algae, carps, salmonids, tilapias, channel catfish, barramundi, marine shrimp, freshwater crayfish and prawns, bivalves and marine gastropods. Written by 30 internationally--known and respected authors, and drawn together and carefully presented by Professors John Lucas and Paul Southgate, Aquaculture is a book that is essential reading for all students and professionals studying and working in aquaculture. Fish farmers, hatchery managers and all those supplying the aquaculture industry, including personnel within equipment and feed manufacturing companies, will find a great deal of commercially useful information within this important book.