水产和渔业科学是对水生生态系统的研究，目的是增进科学认识并将基本生态学原理应用于其管理，从而维持其多种用途。水生生态系统包括湿地，溪流，湖泊，河口和海洋。水产科学专业人士研究和管理有关海鲜，饮用水，娱乐，运输和美学的宝贵自然系统。水生系统及其生物与陆地系统有很大的区别，因此专门建立了许多专业组织和科学期刊来促进水生科学专业人员之间的交流。
Aquatic and fisheries science is the study of aquatic ecosystems to increase scientific understanding and to apply basic ecological principles to their management, thereby sustaining them for multiple uses. Aquatic ecosystems include wetlands, streams, lakes, estuaries and oceans. Aquatic science professionals study and manage valued natural systems for seafoods, drinking water, recreation, transportation and aesthetics. Aquatic systems and their organisms are sufficiently distinct from terrestrial systems that numerous professional organizations and scientific journals have been founded specifically to foster communication among aquatic science professionals.