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Sustainability in Aquaculture Systems

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Food".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 November 2025 | Viewed by 1846

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University, 210 Weaver Administration, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Interests: aquaculture engineering; sustainable aquaculture; coastal bioengineering; aquaponics; automation and control in aquatic systems
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aquaculture is the fastest growing protein sector in the world. Fish are often excellent converters of feed; as poikilotherms, they do not need to maintain a particular body temperature and as they are supported by water, they can focus energy on adding protein with minimal skeletal support needed. However, numerous authors have acknowledged limits to sustainability (Naylor et al., 2002, 2021; Hall 2002, 2024). In Naylor’s more recent article, it is acknowledged that some aspects of aquaculture are more sustainable (e.g. shellfish culture, algae culture), while additional work is needed in finfish and crustacean aquaculture. The aim of this Special Issue is to document and encourage advances in sustainability of aquaculture and aquatic systems.

Specific areas of interest include improvements in sustainability in aquatic nutrition, engineered systems, plant-based aquaculture, waste management technologies, and sustainability-focused value-added systems. Systems within which these advancements may occur include ponds, cages, recirculating aquaculture systems (RASs), efficient raceways and other systems such as aquaponics that can be sustainable in environmental, economic and socially relevant areas. Given that aquaculture is growing fast, it is critical that positive solutions to sustainability challenges are developed and disseminated.

This Special Issue will bring together the recent scientific advances in sustainability in aquaculture. Original scientific studies as well as relevant review articles are welcome. This Special Issue will supplement and extend existing literature by highlighting critical areas of scientific advances as well as current state of the art and needed future research in a single Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Steven G. Hall
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • sustainable aquaculture
  • plant-based aquaculture
  • efficient aquatic feeds
  • recirculating systems
  • biofloc systems
  • aquaponics systems
  • water efficiency
  • energy efficiency
  • life cycle analysis

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

21 pages, 1158 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Light Intensity and Salinity for Sustainable Kale (Brassica oleracea) Production and Potential Application in Marine Aquaponics
by Christopher Pascual, Lirong Xiang, Ricardo Hernandez and Steven Hall
Sustainability 2024, 16(23), 10516; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310516 - 30 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1595
Abstract
With rising populations and increasing food consumption, the demand for food is placing significant strain on freshwater resources. Exploring crops that can thrive under saline conditions is crucial to ensuring food security. Although brackish and seawater is abundant, it is generally unsuitable for [...] Read more.
With rising populations and increasing food consumption, the demand for food is placing significant strain on freshwater resources. Exploring crops that can thrive under saline conditions is crucial to ensuring food security. Although brackish and seawater is abundant, it is generally unsuitable for irrigation. However, some plants exhibit tolerance to moderate levels of salinity. This study investigated the effects of varying light intensities (150 and 250 photosynthetic photon flux densities) and salinity levels (<1.5, 5, 10, and 17 parts per thousand, equivalent to <26, 86, 171, and 291 millimolars) on the growth and nutrient composition of Russian kale (Brassica oleracea) grown in indoor hydroponics. The experiment was conducted over five months, from September 2023 to January 2024. The results revealed that a light intensity of 250 PPFD and salinity levels of <1.5–5 ppt (<26–86 mM) were optimal for maximizing the biomass yield of the kale, whereas a significant reduction in the yield was observed at salinity levels exceeding 10 ppt (171 mM). In contrast, the dry matter percentage was significantly higher at 17 ppt (291 mM). The macronutrient contents, particularly the total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), total phosphorus (TP), and magnesium (Mg), were consistent across both light intensities (150–250 PPFDs) and at salinity levels between <1.5 and 10 ppt (<26–171 mM) but were reduced at 17 ppt (291 mM). The micronutrient concentrations, such as those of copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn), were higher at the lower light intensity (150 PPFD) across the salinity levels. These findings suggest that optimizing the light conditions is essential for enhancing the nutritional value of kale in saline environments. These outcomes are particularly vital for improving agricultural productivity and resilience in salt-affected regions, thereby supporting broader food security and sustainability goals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Aquaculture Systems)
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