Aquacultureexemplifiestheongoingglobalstruggletostrikeasustainablebalancebetweentheconflictingneedsofarapidlyincreasingworldpopulation,humanhealth,ecosystemhealth,thewelfareofwildanddomesticatedanimals,andtheeconomicprinciplesofglobalizedeconomies.Ontheonehand,aquaculturehasgreatpotentialforprovidinguswithahealthyandnutritiousfoodsupplywhilstalleviatingpressureoncaptivefisheriesandreducingfisheries-inducedhabitatdestruction,overfishing,geneticmodificationofwildpopulations,andwholesalewasteofbycatch.Ontheotherhand,aquaculturereliesheavilyoncleanwater,anincreasinglyprecious(anddwindling)resourcethatissubjecttointensepressureofbeingusedformanycompetingobjectives.Thisconciseprimerintroducesstudentstothebasicconcepts,opportunities,andchallengesofaquaculturewithanemphasisonecologicalconsiderations.Itprovidesacriticalassessmentofcurrentaquaculturepracticesfromabroad,interdisciplinaryperspectiveandfromthestandpointofhowbesttoalignthetwomajor(andoftenconflicting)goalsoffutureaquaculturedevelopment:minimizingrelianceonecosystemserviceswhilstmaximizingproductivity.APrimerofEcologicalAquacultureprovidesanaccessibleandauthoritativeoverviewforawiderangeofundergraduatemajorsrangingfrombiology,engineering,andenvironmentalpolicytobusinessandmanagement.Itwillalsoappealtoamoregeneralacademicaudiencewhowishtogainacurrentoverviewofthefield.
PRIMER OPPORTUNITIES ENGINEERING
