This manual has guidelines, strategies, and warnings about starting a shellfish farming business in Alaska and other cold water regions. It describes what kinds of people make the best shellfish farmers, why some farms fail, how to get accurate information on shellfish farming, how to start a business, financing, choosing a culture site, and techniques. RaLonde, formerly on the fisheries faculty at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, worked closely with Alaska shellfish farmers for more than 30 years.