This work by K.V. Shust (Doctor of Biological Sciences), published in 1998, remains fairly unknown beyond a Russian-speaking readership.

The book represents the first complete summary, prepared by a Russian author, of original material and published data describing comlnercial and potentially commercial Antarctic fish species. Moreover its value is enhanced by the author having participated in many fisheries research expeditions in Antarctica.

The introduction notes that until the 1960s Antarctic waters were still among the most poorly studied regions from the point of view of their fisheries potential. The USSR began regular, largescale multidisciplinary studies here in the early 1960s.

Starting from the first South Atlantic expedition carried out by the research vessel Alademilc Knipovich in 1964/65 and up until 1992, scientists from VNIRO and all of its regional branches carried out systematic research into Antarctic bioresources, especially fish. The mid-1970s saw other countries beginning to carry out research and commercial fishing in Antarctic waters. This led to international cooperation in the study of Antarctic bioresources, firstly by individual groups under the auspices of SCAR (Scientific Committee for Antarctic Research), and later, after the coming into force of the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, under the guidance of the intergovernmental Commission also known as CCAMLR.