Introduction to Fisheries Science (Revised Edition)

Fisheries can be divided into two main sectors: capture fisheries and aquaculture. With the rapid growth of the global population, the demand for food has been steadily increasing. Covering approximately 70% of the Earth's surface, the vast oceans are a treasure trove of resources, with the estimated sustainable catch potential of fishery resources exceeding 100 million metric tons annually. Furthermore, advancements in fishery technologies have spurred the development of marine ranching and intensive aquaculture, which are gradually surpassing natural fishery yields. Aquatic products, rich in high-quality animal protein and fats, make fisheries a vital source of nutrition for people around the world. As such, fishery science is becoming an increasingly important global field, poised to continue evolving and advancing.

Despite this, Taiwan has long lacked a comprehensive introductory textbook on aquaculture and fisheries that balances both local and international perspectives, and that keeps pace with the rapid developments in fishery science by incorporating the latest technologies and global industry trends. This book is primarily based on my lecture materials for the “Introduction to Fisheries” course at National Taiwan University and includes contributions from domestic experts in related fields. We have thoroughly reviewed and integrated a wide range of insights from both local and international scholars to present the most essential and relevant content. The result is a textbook that reflects the current state of fisheries development both in Taiwan and globally, which I have carefully reviewed and edited.

This book is structured according to current curricular needs and is divided into five main sections, encompassing a total of 22 chapters. These cover key topics such as: Introduction, Capture Fisheries, Aquatic Breeding and Culture, Aquatic Nutrition and Diseases, and Aquatic Product Processing and Business Management. The interrelationships among these chapters are illustrated in the "Learning Progress Map." It is our hope that this book will provide both general readers and students in related university and vocational school in Taiwan with a broad and foundational understanding of the latest advancements in modern fishery science.