Advances in Probiotic and Prebiotic Applications for Sustainable Aquaculture: Harnessing Their Roles in China’s Marine Pasture Restoration and Health

Abstract

Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food-producing sector globally, yet intensive farming in China has led to severe ecological degradation of coastal marine pastures, including habitat loss, disease outbreaks, and dysbiosis of cultured species. Probiotics (beneficial live microorganisms) and prebiotics (non-digestible substrates that promote beneficial microbiota) offer eco-friendly alternatives to antibiotics and chemicals, aligning with China’s “Blue Granary” and marine ecological restoration initiatives. Recent advances demonstrate that multi-strain probiotics (including Lactobacillus, Bacillus, and marine-derived Vibrio spp.) and prebiotics (including mannan oligosaccharides, fructooligosaccharides, and seaweed-derived polysaccharides) significantly enhance growth performance, immune responses, and disease resistance in key Chinese aquaculture species such as sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus), shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), and large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea). These biotics modulate gut and water microbiota, improve nutrient utilization, suppress pathogenic Vibrio populations, and mitigate environmental stress. In marine ranching and pasture restoration projects, probiotic-prebiotic synbiotics have accelerated the recovery of degraded seaweed beds and benthic communities while reducing harmful algal blooms (HABs) and organic sediment loads. This review synthesizes evidence from Chinese and international studies (2018–2025) and highlights successful field-scale applications in Bohai Bay, the Yellow Sea, and the South China Sea restoration zones. Integrating probiotics and prebiotics into feed and water management supports antibiotic-free aquaculture, enhances carbon sequestration in marine pastures, and advances China’s goals of ecological civilization and sustainable blue economy.