ABSTRACT
Sena S. De Silva1,2,*, Thuy T.T. Nguyen2 and Brett A. Ingram3
Aquaculture, an ancient practice, is thought to have originated in China, over 3000 years ago, and Fan Li is credited for the first written account on aquaculture in 460 BC (Chinese Aquaculture Society, 1986). Aquaculture, for all intents and purposes, remained an 'art' until the second half of the last century, when the world began to realize that the increasing demand for aquatic food products could be met from the traditional supplies, in particular the marine capture fisheries. It is in this context that the science of aquaculture began to develop, and over the last 30 years this sector has recorded the highest rate of growth amongst all primary production sectors in the world (De Silva, 2001).
