Search Results (1,225)

Aquaculture faces structural constraints linked to input sustainability, animal health, and a persistent reliance on fishmeal and fish oil, alongside the intensive use of antibiotics in high-density production systems. In this context, edible fungi have emerged as promising functional ingredients, primarily due to their content of structural polysaccharides, particularly β-glucans and chitin. This review synthesizes recent evidence on the dietary inclusion of fungal-derived compounds in aquafeeds for commercially relevant species. Overall, these bioactive components have been associated with beneficial effects on growth performance, feed efficiency, antioxidant status, and disease resistance in species such as Oncorhynchus mykiss, Salmo salar, and Oreochromis spp. However, the magnitude and consistency of these responses remain highly variable across studies. Such variability is primarily attributed to differences in the structural composition of the ingredients, their physicochemical form, processing methods, and their compatibility with host digestive physiology, all of which influence functional bioavailability and the resulting biological responses. Consequently, their biological effects are context-dependent and should be interpreted according to ingredient characteristics, host species, dietary inclusion level, and experimental conditions rather than assuming a universal dose–response relationship. Effective implementation will require advances in matrix standardization, detailed structural characterization of bioactive compounds, and validation under industry-relevant conditions. Full article

Spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) poses a major threat to aquaculture industry, triggering severe economic losses and substantial damage to fish health. Effective antiviral therapeutic approaches are currently insufficient in aquaculture, highlighting an urgent demand for viable intervention strategies. This study assessed the antiviral and immunomodulatory potential of Houttuynia cordata against SVCV in common carp. Combined cellular and in vivo fish experiments demonstrated that Houttuynia cordata markedly suppresses SVCV replication, reduces viral titer, and enhances disease resistance of carp. The extract appears to suppress RARα-A, upregulate IFN-1/CXCL11, and recruit T lymphocytes via CXCL11, thereby enhancing innate and adaptive immunity against SVCV. Experimental results indicate that Houttuynia cordata alleviates hemorrhagic symptoms induced by SVCV infection. Dietary supplementation with this herb realizes dual functions of viral suppression and immune regulation for carp aquaculture. The findings provide a practical prevention and control strategy against SVCV infection and offer novel insights for research on green antiviral agents. Furthermore, this study verifies the potential value of Houttuynia cordata in improving biological safety and facilitating sustainable development of aquaculture, laying a solid foundation for the development of eco-friendly antiviral preparations. Full article

Modern aquaculture is essential for meeting the increasing global demand for fish and seafood, but its rapid expansion has exposed limitations that threaten long-term sustainability. Major challenges include high disease outbreaks, low nutritional efficiency, and the instability and poor solubility of nutraceuticals and plant-derived compounds. These challenges often create a self-reinforcing feedback loop, amplifying the detrimental effects of one another. Conventional approaches, including antibiotics, chemical treatments, aquafeeds, and chemotherapeutic agents, have shown limited effectiveness, partly due to inefficient delivery systems that can contribute to environmental contamination and antimicrobial resistance. This review discusses nanotechnology-enabled strategies to improve these traditional methods, focusing on nanocarriers and nanoencapsulation techniques, and also mentioning other synthetized nanoparticles and microencapsulation strategies. These systems have succeeded in reducing oxidative degradation and improving bioavailability by enhancing the stability and activity of encapsulated bioactives. The review also evaluates their functional performance, limitations, environmental effects, interactions with different organisms, and regulatory constraints in the industry. Overall, while safe and scalable use of biodegradable nanoscale delivery systems in modern aquaculture has shown great potential, it still depends on careful design, harmonized regulations, and economically feasible manufacturing. Full article

Aquaculture development increasingly depends on complex relationships among environmental, institutional, regulatory, and market-related factors rather than on isolated strategic processes. This study examined sustainability governance in Türkiye’s aquaculture sector through an expert-based interaction framework. A structured SWOT-derived assessment framework was applied involving 25 experts representing academia, public institutions, producer organizations, and the aquaculture industry. Twenty strategic factors equally distributed across strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats were evaluated through pairwise assessments of perceived strategic connectedness. Aggregated interaction matrices, orientation-level comparisons, subgroup evaluations, and robustness analyses were conducted to examine strategic interdependencies within the sector. The findings revealed moderately strong interaction patterns distributed across all four strategic orientations. Among the four strategic orientations, the Strength–Opportunity (SO) orientation exhibited the highest mean interaction score (3.84), followed by Strength–Threat (ST; 3.66), Weakness–Opportunity (WO; 3.43), and Weakness–Threat (WT; 3.19). These results indicate that sustainability-related governance challenges are embedded within interconnected environmental, institutional, regulatory, and market-related processes rather than isolated strategic domains. Sustainability certification, export competitiveness, institutional support mechanisms, regulatory adaptation, and environmental pressure emerged as the most prominent components within the overall interaction structure. These findings reflect expert-perceived strategic associations rather than empirically verified causal relationships among sectoral factors. Reliability and robustness analyses indicated substantial consistency across expert evaluations and limited sensitivity to alternative scoring conditions. Overall, the findings indicate that maintaining long-term sustainability in export-oriented aquaculture systems depends not only on production performance but also on institutional coordination, regulatory adaptation, and the effective integration of sustainability-oriented governance practices. Full article

With the rapid expansion of intensive aquaculture, the frequent outbreak of diseases and the overuse of antibiotics have become increasingly critical issues. Therefore, developing green and efficient antibiotic alternatives is essential for the sustainable growth of the industry. As a novel probiotic, Bacillus velezensis has shown great potential in improving the disease resistance of aquatic animals, owing to its excellent spore-forming ability, broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, and immunoregulatory functions. This paper systematically reviews the main mechanisms by which B. velezensis enhances disease resistance in aquatic animals, including directly inhibiting pathogens through the secretion of various lipopeptides and polyketides such as surfactin, iturin, and fengycin; interfering with pathogen quorum sensing systems via quorum quenching enzymes, thereby suppressing virulence factor expression and biofilm formation; modulating intestinal microbiota structure to increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria while reducing pathogenic proliferation; and activating the non-specific immune system of the host to upregulate immune-related indicators such as acid phosphatase, superoxide dismutase, and key cytokines (such as IL-1β, TNF-α). In addition, this review summarizes the application effects of B. velezensis on improving aquaculture water quality and promoting host growth. Furthermore, the potential ecological impacts on natural microbial communities and strain-dependent biosafety risks are evaluated. Finally, current research limitations—such as strain-specific functional differences, insufficient in-depth analysis of mechanisms, and inconsistent application outcomes—are discussed. Future prospects for promoting the efficient and stable application of B. velezensis in aquaculture through strategies including gene editing, multi-omics integration, and precise formulation compounding are also proposed. Full article

The dramatic rise in global aquaculture has brought renewed focus on filamentous fungi impacting fish health and aquafeeds. The fungal genus Aspergillus has a Janus-like role in aquaculture. On the pathogenic side, opportunistic pathogens like A. flavus, A. niger and A. fumigatus cause outbreaks of aspergillosis, with granulomatous lesions and significant mortality, especially in fish with impaired immunity and/or poor environmental conditions. Toxigenic strains of A. flavus and A. parasiticus also contaminate aquafeeds with aflatoxins, some of the most toxic natural hepatotoxins and carcinogens, which have been shown to affect growth, immunity and aflatoxin residues in edible fish fillets. On the positive side, non-toxigenic strains of A. niger, A. oryzae and A. awamori are increasingly used as fungal probiotics, solid-state fermenters to upgrade plant protein feed supplements, and as sources of industrially useful hydrolytic enzymes, secondary metabolites and antifungal compounds. Synthesizing evidence from over 90 peer-reviewed studies, this narrative review elucidates how species, strain, and rearing context jointly determine whether Aspergillus behaves as a pathogen or as a functional additive. We highlight knowledge gaps, offer an interpretative model and suggest practical strategies to limit risks and leverage the biotechnological uses of Aspergillus for sustainable aquaculture. The novelty of this review lies in integrating, within a single finfish-focused framework, the three usually separate faces of Aspergillus—pathogen, aflatoxin producer, and functional feed additive—and in translating this dual nature into practical, strain-level guidance for aquaculture. Full article

Green tide disasters have erupted consecutively in the Southern Yellow Sea, yet their driving mechanisms remain debated. The “raft-origin-hypothesis” identifies the source as epiphytic Ulva macroalgae attached to laver aquaculture rafts in the Subei Shoal, whereas the “micropropagule-hypothesis” speculates that Ulva micropropagules settling into open sea sediments constitute a cross-year seed reserve. The latter has hitherto relied primarily on laboratory culture simulations, with field-scale assessment lacking. This study established 46 surface sediment survey stations from 2020 to 2022, covering periods before, during, and after green tide outbreaks. Surface sediments were obtained using a box corer, and Ulva micropropagules were quantitatively analyzed through laboratory cultivation and morphological identification. Results showed that micropropagule abundance was generally low and exhibited spatial heterogeneity; high-value areas persistently existed in the Subei Shoal aquaculture zone, extended into the open sea during outbreaks, and generally disappeared in the open sea during and after the decline period. Monthly variations indicated that micropropagules released and settling into sediments (e.g., in the open sea) during large-scale outbreaks could not survive until the following year’s floating period; the initial biomass of subsequent eruptions did not originate from the revival of the seafloor “seed source” in the open sea, which remains speculative. Full article

This study investigated the potential effects of Bellamya purificata polysaccharide (BPP) supplementation in feed on Cherax quadricarinatus, aiming to elucidate its impact on immune function and the underlying regulatory mechanisms. A 60-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of varying dietary BPP concentrations (0‰, 2‰, 4‰, 6‰, and 8‰) on growth performance, histopathology, immune function, and transcriptomic profiles of C. quadricarinatus. Dietary BPP significantly increased the final body length and body weight of C. quadricarinatus. Furthermore, BPP inclusion improved the histological damage of hepatopancreatic tissues, alleviated physiological stress, and enhanced antioxidant capacity, antibacterial activity, and anti-inflammatory function, as evidenced by alterations in relevant enzyme activities and gene expression levels. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 957 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were predominantly enriched in GO terms and KEGG pathways associated with BPP-mediated immune regulation, such as the PPAR signaling pathway, peroxisome, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and lysosome. In addition, 14 candidate genes were identified, including Acox3, ACOX1, SCP2, and PPT1. Integrated analysis of GO, KEGG, and Short Time-Series Expression Miner (STEM) data supported the development of a mechanistic model illustrating how C. quadricarinatus modulates immune function in response to BPP supplementation. RT-qPCR validation confirmed the accuracy and reliability of the high-throughput sequencing results. Collectively, these findings highlight the potential of BPP as a functional feed additive in aquaculture and provide novel insights into disease prevention strategies for the C. quadricarinatus farming industry. Full article

Salicornia is a genus of salt-tolerant plants capable of growing and producing biomass under conditions that severely constrain conventional agriculture. Beyond its ecological niche as a halophyte, Salicornia has emerged as a multifunctional crop for sustainable food, feed, and bio-based production in saline landscapes. The increasing generation of saline wastewaters and brines from aquaculture, municipal treatment, agro-industrial activities, and greenhouse systems intensifies the need for natural solutions that can recover resources while protecting soils and receiving ecosystems. This review synthesizes current understanding of how Salicornia species perform when irrigated with saline wastewaters, with particular attention to their dual role as productive crops and phytoremediation agents. It further examines the biological mechanisms underlying salt tolerance and the influence of wastewater characteristics on biomass production and phytoremediation performance. Overall, the evidence indicates that Salicornia performs particularly well in nutrient-rich, controlled saline effluents, whereas more complex wastewater matrices require careful contaminant management to ensure biomass quality and safe reuse. This synthesis positions Salicornia as a fundamental species for circular and climate-resilient strategies linking saline wastewater reuse with crop production, while emphasizing that standardized reporting, long-term field validation, and contaminant-aware biomass management remain essential to support wider adoption. Full article

Availability of veterinary medicinal products is a critical determinant of health, welfare, and economic sustainability in European aquaculture. This study assessed the changes in the authorization and reported market availability of veterinary medicines for finfish in the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) between 2018 and 2026, by comparing and analyzing data on veterinary medicinal products for aquatic species from the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA), the FishMedPlus Coalition, and the European Medicines Agency Union Product Database. The results revealed a wide divergence between regulatory authorization and reported availability. While the total number of authorized VMPs nominally increased from 304 in 2018 to 332 in 2025 (+9.2%), the number of reported unique active substances available declined (−16.7%). Crucially, the analysis of 2025 data indicates that only 26.5% of authorized products were reported to be actively available on the market, creating a “paper market” that masks severe therapeutic gaps, particularly in minor fish species such as seabass, seabream, carp, and trout sectors. Potential key drivers identified were limited markets, industry consolidation, increased burden related to stricter environmental requirements, as well as enlarged administrative and financial burdens. Despite EU legislative mechanisms designed to support limited markets, the sector faces stagnation in therapeutic diversity, necessitating continued reliance on the off-label use of medicines. Full article

Sulfadimethoxine (SDM) is a sulfonamide antibiotic widely used in the aquaculture of aquatic organisms. Its excessive residues in animal-derived food products can cause irreversible harm to human health and the environment. Current primary detection methods for SDM, such as instrumental methods and Immunoassay techniques, demonstrate high sensitivity and accuracy. However, their industrial application is impeded by laborious sample pretreatment, reliance on specific equipment, and dependence on specially trained personnel. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a simple and rapid method for detecting SDM residues. In this study, we constructed a novel colorimetric sensing platform based on functional nucleic acids for SDM detection. This sensor incorporates a nucleic acid aptamer capable of specifically recognizing SDM, a G-quadruplex/Hemin complex with peroxidase-like catalytic activity, and a shielding sequence that suppresses catalytic activity while undergoing SDM-induced conformational changes. The colorimetric signal was generated using a 3,3′,5,5′-Tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) chromogenic substrate, and the sensor’s performance was evaluated via absorbance measurements with a microplate reader. After optimizing detection conditions, the sensor exhibited a linear response to SDM concentrations ranging from 0.155 to 3.10 ng/mL, with a detection limit of 0.0796 ng/mL. Furthermore, the sensor demonstrated excellent selectivity and achieved recoveries of 83.0% to 107% in spiked aquaculture water and fish samples, with coefficients of variation below 10.4%, confirming its superior practicality for real-world sample analysis. Full article

Aquaculture has rapidly expanded, surpassing capture fisheries and playing a vital role in global food security. However, this growth raises environmental concerns, especially regarding nitrogen waste accumulation in recirculating aquaculture systems (RASs). Nitrogen compounds from uneaten feed and fish excreta, mainly ammonia (NH₃) and nitrite (NO₂⁻), lead to water pollution, eutrophication, and greenhouse gas emissions. This study describes the setup and the efficiency of a new photo-electrocatalytic (PEC) system in reducing nitrogen waste in a high-density RAS for rainbow trout (30 kg/m³). The PEC system, an evolution of a pure photocatalytic system, was integrated in the units of the RAS and tested for the first time in field conditions, combining photocatalysis and electrochemical oxidation to convert toxic nitrogen species (NH₃) into less harmful nitrogen forms (NO₃⁻ and N₂), aiming to mitigate both water and atmospheric pollution. Over a 4-week period, water nitrogen compounds, ammonia and greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane) emitted by water were continuously monitored in two groups of three tanks (PEC vs. control). Each tank was equipped as an independent RAS unit. PEC treatment led to significantly lower NH₃ concentrations (0.96 ± 0.2 mg/L vs. 1.78 ± 0.2 mg/L, p < 0.01), lower NO₂⁻ levels and higher NO₃⁻ levels (61.77 ± 2.14 mg/L vs. 53.10 ± 2.14 mg/L, p < 0.01) in water, indicating efficient nitrogen oxidation. Gaseous emissions were also reduced: NH₃ (1.49 vs. 2.64 mg/m²/day, p < 0.05) and N₂O (1.44 vs. 2.88 mg/m²/day, p < 0.05). These results support PEC technology as a promising solution for improving nitrogen management in intensive aquaculture. Although challenges remain in optimizing energy use and scalability, PEC offers a valuable strategy for reducing environmental impact while sustaining productivity in the aquaculture industry. Full article

The increasing demand for sustainable and cost-effective feed alternatives has stimulated the use of agro-industrial by-products in poultry nutrition. This study evaluated the effects of acid silage from pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) by-products (ASP), derived from fish-processing waste, on growth performance, physiological responses, and meat quality of slow-growing broilers. A total of 240 male Label Rouge broilers were assigned to diets containing 0, 1, 2, or 3% ASP from 8 to 56 days of age. Moderate ASP inclusion levels (1–2%) improved (p ≤ 0.05) growth performance by increasing weight gain and improving feed conversion ratio, particularly during the grower and finisher stages. Hematological analyses demonstrated favorable physiological responses, including increased (p ≤ 0.05) hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin. Plasma biochemical parameters indicated improved (p ≤ 0.05) protein metabolism, with higher total protein, albumin, and globulin concentrations, while glucose, cholesterol, and urea remained unaffected (p > 0.05). Carcass evaluation revealed improved (p ≤ 0.05) breast yield at 2% ASP inclusion, and breast composition showed increased (p ≤ 0.05) protein, lipid, and mineral deposition, accompanied by reduced (p ≤ 0.05) moisture content. However, the highest inclusion level (3%) did not promote additional productive benefits. These findings demonstrate that moderate ASP inclusion (1–2%) can improve productive efficiency and meat nutritional quality while promoting sustainable reuse of aquaculture by-products, supporting circular and environmentally responsible poultry production systems. Full article

The contamination of aquaculture products and effluents by Emerging Contaminants (ECs)—originating from both direct chemical applications and peripheral industrial activities—represents a critical global concern due to the environmental and public health risks associated with their persistence, bioaccumulation, and environmental dispersion. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the available scientific evidence on the occurrence, sources, environmental and human health impacts, and mitigation strategies of ECs in aquaculture production systems. A systematic literature search was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines across the Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. Studies were selected according to predefined eligibility criteria, resulting in a total of 137 studies included in this review. The findings indicate that these pollutants accumulate within the tissues of farmed organisms, posing direct ingestion risks to humans, while contaminated effluents facilitate the widespread degradation of receiving water bodies. Given their environmental persistence and ubiquitous distribution, there is an urgent need for advanced analytical methodologies, robust regulatory frameworks, and the implementation of sustainable treatment technologies—such as advanced oxidation processes and recirculating aquaculture systems—alongside strategies for reducing antibiotics and microplastics. These measures are essential to mitigate the prevalence of ECs and safeguard both ecosystem integrity and human health. Full article

Aquatic ecosystems are increasingly impacted by anthropogenic pressures, including nutrient over-enrichment, industrial discharge and physical habitat alteration, resulting from industrialization, urbanization, agricultural intensification and population growth. In recent years, microalgae have been extensively studied in engineered and controlled systems for their potential role in aquatic ecosystem restoration, owing to their capacity to assimilate nutrients, sequester contaminants and interact with microbial consortia, alongside valuable biomass generation. While most of the existing studies are based on ex situ systems, such as high-rate algal ponds, wastewater treatment reactors, algal–bacterial granular sludge, constructed wetlands and aquaculture effluent treatment units, these processes provide mechanistic insights relevant to aquatic ecosystem restoration. Hence, this review critically evaluates the emerging role of microalgae in aquatic ecosystem restoration, mainly through two implementation pathways, namely ex situ engineered systems and in situ applications, based on the current state of the art in microalgae-driven processes, with particular emphasis on nutrient uptake pathways and mechanisms. Furthermore, key challenges and future directions associated with the translational potential of microalgae-based approaches, including field-scale validation, ecological performance assessment, operational stability and regulatory integration, essential for real-world aquatic ecosystem restoration, are discussed. Despite the limitations in direct field-scale restoration, microalgae-based strategies are promising and sustainable platforms for aquatic ecosystem rehabilitation, which align with Sustainable Development Goals 6 and 14. Full article