Sustainable Aquaculture Waste and Wastewater Management in a Circular Bioeconomy
A special issue of Environments (ISSN 2076-3298).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2026 | Viewed by 107
Special Issue Editors
Interests: RAS; aquaponics; biofloc; modeling; circular economy
Interests: aquaculture; circular economy; bioprocess engineering
Interests: advanced oxidation processes for wastewater treatment; micro-pollutant removal from water and wastewater; innovative technologies for groundwater remediation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
As global demand for aquaculture products increases amid declining natural fish populations, aquaculture has expanded rapidly and now supplies over half of the global fish market. However, traditional aquaculture practices raise significant environmental challenges, particularly regarding wastewater and sludge discharge. Approximately 75% of N and P feed input remains unused by fish, accumulating instead in wastewater about 20–30% as dissolved nutrients and 25–40% as solids in fish sludge. This nutrient-rich wastewater, if discharged untreated, can lead to severe secondary pollution, deteriorating aquatic ecosystems. Efficiently managing these nutrients through improved recycling processes and minimizing wastewater release is therefore crucial for sustainable aquaculture. Integrating circular economy principles, namely recycling, reusing, and reducing waste, into aquaculture can substantially alleviate both environmental and economic burdens. Adopting holistic, integrated approaches to waste management and advancing technologies for solids and ammonia removal will support sustainable production, enhance resource efficiency, and strengthen the interconnections in the water-food-energy nexus.
This Special Issue seeks to advance sustainable aquaculture by promoting innovative approaches to wastewater and waste management based on circular economy principles. The goal is to highlight solutions that enhance nutrient recycling, reduce environmental impact, and improve resource efficiency in aquaculture systems. We welcome research on novel treatment technologies, nutrient recovery strategies, integrated system designs, and practical case studies.
Research aims for submissions include, but are not limited to, the following:
Novel technologies for aquaculture waste and wastewater treatment.
Aquaculture waste revalorization.
Integration of bio-based treatment methods to promote circular bioeconomy.
Innovative aquaculture systems (including aquaponics, biofloc, algae and BSFL).
Sustainable management practices for waste and wastewater in aquaculture.
Techno-economic/life cycle assessments of circular aquaculture systems.
Dr. Ze Zhu
Dr. Wenchang Liu
Dr. Simeone Chianese
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- aquaculture wastewater and sludge
- waste revalorization
- sustainable recirculating aquaculture
- aquaponics
- biofloc technology
- algae
- insect production/BSFL
- advancing treatment technologies
- circular economy
- water–food–energy nexus
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