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Aquaculture is one the potentially most vital sections of the national primary sector. A number of factors contributed to the growth of this division, not least the use of techniques already proven in the traditional zootechny, enriched with increasingly advanced and thorough experimentation. The development of aquaculture spread together with a rapid evolution of the production techniques, in particular in the ichthyopathology artificial reproduction sectors, as well as in the feeding and breeding technologies. The research applied to breeding technologies then became more active and found new solutions, like the introduction of water oxygenation systems, the computerized control of the physical-chemical parameters of water as well as increasingly more sophisticated systems for species selection. In this context A.P.I. stands out as a professional trade association, established in June 1964 and appointed Non-Profit Corporation by D.P.R. No 1101 of 31 March 1970. The freshwater aquaculture section provides for the breeding of salmonids, especially the trout, which represents the most popularly reared species in our country and makes Italy one of the major EEC producers, of cyprinidae (carp, tench, etc.), ictaluridae (European and American black bullhead), acipenseridae (sturgeon), eels, also a major production for Italy in Europe, as well as other minor species (pike, etc.). On the other hand, salt and brackish water aquaculture provides for the breeding of species like the sea bass and the sea bream, the white sea bream, the shi drum, the eel, as well as other minor species like grey mullets and molluscs (which usually are reared in fishing valleys and in a few cases in basins bordering on fish farms). The association gathers over 300 fish-breeding plants, of all species, which represent around 90% of the national production of aquaculture fish.