ABSTRACT
Although aquaculture as a farming practice dates back thousands of years, during the last three decades several simultaneous occurrences have stimulated scientific research of shellfish and finfish cultivation. First, per capita consumption of fish, long appreciated as an excellent source of dietary protein, is increasing across the globe. Second, in countries with rapidly expanding human populations, natural waters no longer meet the growing demand for fish due to overfishing and water quality degradation from poor watershed and waste disposal management (Edwards, 1991). And third, technological advances, such as hormonally induced spawning, sophisticated recirculating systems, and pelleted feeds, have moved the production of commercial species (e.g., the tiger prawn and channel catfish) into large-scale operations.
