Aquaculture International最新文献

{"title":"Dietary argan oil for juvenile rainbow trout: growth performance, fatty acid profile, and antioxidant defense","authors":"Chaimae Said,&nbsp;Fatih Korkmaz,&nbsp;Seyda Tacer-Tanas,&nbsp;Waheedullah Mohmand,&nbsp;Murat Arslan","doi":"10.1007/s10499-026-02552-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-026-02552-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The sustainability of aquaculture is increasingly challenged by reliance on fish oil as the primary dietary lipid, raising concerns over cost, supply stability, and pressure on marine ecosystems. Plant-based oils offer promising alternatives, yet their effects on fish growth, lipid metabolism, and physiological health remain to be fully elucidated. Argan (<i>Argania spinosa</i> L.) oil, rich in unsaturated fatty acids and bioactive antioxidant compounds, represents a novel feed ingredient whose potential in aquaculture nutrition has not yet been explored. This study assessed the replacement of dietary fish oil with argan oil at inclusion levels of 0 (control; AO0), 33 (AO33), 67 (AO67), and 100% (AO100) in juvenile rainbow trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) over an 8-week feeding period. Growth performance, feed efficiency, and proximate composition were not significantly influenced by dietary treatments. On the other hand, increasing argan oil inclusion resulted in a gradual reduction of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly eicosapentaenoic (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic (DHA, 22:6n-3) acids in fish. However, when fish oil was replaced with a relatively high level of argan oil as in fish fed the AO67 diet, these fatty acids were remained at reasonable levels (2.1 and 10.2%, respectively). Hepatic lipid peroxidation reduced with the increase in dietary argan oil level, reaching the lowest value (2.9 nM MDA/mg protein) in fish fed the AO100 diet. The overall results suggest that argan oil can totally replace fish oil in rainbow trout diet without compromising growth and feed utilization. It is noteworthy that the sustained growth and feed utilization at total replacement may be attributed to residual dietary n-3 LC-PUFAs provided by fishmeal and the relatively limited trial period. Therefore, to ensure sustainability over long-term feeding practices, partial replacement at 67% is suggested, as this level enables fish to maintain comparable n-3 LC-PUFAs retention, optimal growth and feed utilization, and enhanced oxidative defense.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"34 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10499-026-02552-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147829928","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimizing 17α-methyltestosterone dose and exposure time for masculinization of yellowtail tetra (Astyanax lacustris)","authors":"Renata da Silva Farias,&nbsp;Karolayne Ribeiro da Silva Oliveira,&nbsp;Bruno César Nascimento Ramos da Silva,&nbsp;Marcele Trajano de Araújo,&nbsp;Dijaci Araújo Ferreira,&nbsp;Valdemiro Amaro da Silva Júnior,&nbsp;Maria Raquel Moura Coimbra","doi":"10.1007/s10499-026-02553-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-026-02553-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The fact that the yellowtail tetra (<i>Astyanax lacustris</i>) exhibits sexual dimorphism in growth, with females typically outperforming males, has led to increased interest in sex control strategies for monosex production. This study aimed to refine a dietary masculinization protocol using 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) to induce phenotypic masculinization. Fish were fed diets containing 0, 10, 15, or 20 mg/kg MT for either 30 or 60 days, followed by rearing on a hormone-free diet until 212 days post-hatch. Sex ratio, growth performance, and gonadal traits were then evaluated. Treatment duration significantly influenced all assessed parameters at equivalent MT doses, whereas dose-dependent effects within the same exposure period were limited to body depth and gonadal weight. The 10 mg/kg MT treatment administered for 30 days yielded the highest masculinization efficiency, producing 83.3% phenotypic males. These results demonstrate that lower MT doses combined with shorter exposure periods can efficiently induce phenotypic masculinization in <i>A. lacustris</i>. This protocol provides a practical foundation for future studies aimed at evaluating the feasibility of neomale-based strategies for all-female production in freshwater aquaculture.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"34 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10499-026-02553-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147829080","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of seasonal variations on physico-metabolic responses of Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822) reared under different culture systems","authors":"Samikshya Mishra,&nbsp;Sujata Sahoo,&nbsp;T. Bhuvaneshwaran,&nbsp;Kajal Kumari,&nbsp;Sapana Devi Khumujam,&nbsp;Parimal Sardar,&nbsp;Tincy Varghese,&nbsp;Tapas Kumar Ghoshal,&nbsp;Kedar Nath Mohanta","doi":"10.1007/s10499-026-02554-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-026-02554-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>A year-round field study (2023–2024) was conducted to evaluate the combined effects of three seasons (summer, rainy, winter) and three freshwater culture systems (extensive, semi-intensive, sewage-fed) on the physico-metabolic responses of <i>Labeo rohita</i> (Hamilton, 1822) using nine system X season treatment combinations (T1–T9). A total of 90 fish were collected from each system-season combination or treatment. The fish were evaluated for biometric indices, serum and tissue biochemical parameters, digestive enzymes, and carcass proximate composition along with treatment-wise water quality analysis. A significant (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05) system X season interaction effect was observed for fish reared in different systems. Sewage-fed ponds exhibited higher ammonia, alkalinity, hardness, pH, and lower dissolved oxygen levels during the rainy and summer seasons. Fish from the semi-intensive system showed significantly higher (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05) <i>K</i> in the summer/rainy season, HSI, and ISI in the winter season. Glucose and cortisol levels were highest in sewage-fed fish, with elevated SOD and Catalase activities. Sewage-fed fish exhibited significantly elevated (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05) metabolic enzymes (ALP, AST, ALT, LDH, MDH), peaking in the rainy season, whereas extensive winter fish showed the lowest activities. Serum proteins (total protein, albumin, globulin) were significantly (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05) reduced in the sewage-fed group and comparatively higher in extensive conditions. Cholesterol, LDL, and VLDL levels were significantly higher, and HDL levels were lower in the sewage-fed system. Excretory metabolites (urea, uric acid, creatinine, and bilirubin) were significantly high (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05) in sewage-fed rainy season fish. Digestive enzymes (amylase, protease, lipase) were significantly lower (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05) in sewage-fed fish. Whole-body composition showed significantly higher (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05) protein in semi-intensive fish, but greater lipid deposition in sewage-fed fish. Overall, seasons have a significant impact on the metabolic homeostasis of <i>Labeo rohita</i>, and the semi-intensive system provides optimal welfare conditions throughout all seasons. In contrast, the sewage-fed system imposes pronounced oxidative and metabolic stresses, especially during the rainy and summer seasons.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"34 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147829641","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of contract farming on farmers’ income: evidence from oyster farmers in Shandong Province, China","authors":"Likun Ma,&nbsp;Lina Ma","doi":"10.1007/s10499-026-02549-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-026-02549-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study examines the impact of contract farming on the income of smallholder oyster farmers in coastal Shandong Province, China, addressing the mixed findings in existing literature on its effectiveness in developing countries. Using survey data from 510 oyster farming households across four coastal cities, the study applies a combined coarsened exact matching (CEM) and propensity score matching (PSM) approach to mitigate selection bias. Treatment effects are estimated via weighted least squares (WLS) regression, and a mediation model explores the role of new equipment adoption and technology upgrades as pathways linking contract participation to income improvement. Results show that participation in contract farming significantly increases both total farm income and farm income per output. A dual mediation effect is confirmed: Contract farming facilitates the adoption of new equipment, which in turn drives technological upgrading, ultimately enhancing income. However, new equipment alone can temporarily reduce income due to high initial costs. Regional heterogeneity analysis reveals that income effects with high levels of regional policy support. This study contributes to the literature by providing new empirical evidence from an under-researched sector—oyster aquaculture—and by introducing a sequential mediation model that uncovers the mechanisms behind income changes.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"34 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147829370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biological carbon sinks in aquaculture: evaluating sequestration potential and integration into carbon markets","authors":"Christian Larbi Ayisi,&nbsp;Samuel Ayeh Osei,&nbsp;Adelaide Henewaa,&nbsp;Rosemary Anderson Akolaa","doi":"10.1007/s10499-026-02551-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-026-02551-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Interests in carbon markets worldwide have increased significantly due to the growing urgency of climate change mitigation, prompting a reassessment of nature-based solutions for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Wetland environments and forests have long been recognized as carbon sinks, but little is known about how aquaculture helps sequester carbon and how it may be included into carbon credit markets. With a focus on shellfish, seaweed, and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), this study examines the potential of aquaculture systems to sequester carbon. This study also examines how prepared various aquaculture systems are to take part in compliance and voluntary carbon markets. Through biological processes including carbonate shell formation, photosynthetic CO₂ uptake, and sedimentary carbon burial, aquaculture can function as a blue carbon sink. The study outlined crucial conditions for inclusion in carbon credit schemes, including additionality, permanence, and measurability. It also provided insight into new methodologies and technological developments, including life cycle assessment, AI-based monitoring, and blockchain for transparent carbon accounting. Notwithstanding these benefits, a number of barriers still stand in the way of progress, including the high costs of verification for small-scale producers, the restrictive regulatory frameworks, and the lack of scientific clarity surrounding carbon measurement. Policymakers’ heightened interest in aquaculture and its potential to significantly impact national climate policies are demonstrated by case studies of blue carbon projects and pilot programs. To realize this potential fully, the study suggests increased investment in research, capacity building, and policy integration. The aquaculture sector can play an important role in the production of climate-smart food, ensuring environmental restoration and sustainable development by bridging gaps between aquaculture and carbon finance.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"34 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147829635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Staged solid-state fermentation of coconut testa with tunable microbial inoculation sequences produces functional reconstituted extracts that improve feed efficiency and selenium enrichment in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)","authors":"Kiki Haetami,&nbsp;Ayi Yustiati,&nbsp;Abun Abun,&nbsp;Munir Alinu Mulki","doi":"10.1007/s10499-026-02550-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-026-02550-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Coconut testa is an abundant agro-industrial byproduct with potential as a functional aquafeed input. This study produced coconut testa lipid–mineral–organic (LMO) supplements by solid-state fermentation (SSF) using <i>Neurospora sitophila</i> alone or staged with <i>Rhizopus oryzae</i> and/or <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>, with selenium fortification (20 mg Na2SeO3/kg dry substrate). Fermented solids were fractionated into a lipid fraction (LF) and an organic–mineral concentrate (OMC), then recombined (LF:OMC = 9:1, w/w) to generate standardized reconstituted extracts (RE). RE yields were 152–166 g/kg DM, with 55.3–56.6% lipid and 39–44 mg Se/kg DM; lauric acid accounted for 25.5–29.6% of identified fatty acids. In a 12-week feeding trial, 180 juvenile Nile tilapia (<i>Oreochromis niloticus</i>; ~ 10 g) were randomly assigned to six diets (<i>n</i> = 3 tanks per diet; 10 fish per tank): a basal diet (T1), the basal diet top-coated with 2% RE (T2–T5), or a higher-protein reference diet (T6). Relative to T1, RE supplementation increased final body weight (40.42 to 49.90 g) and improved feed conversion ratio (1.52 to 1.33) (<i>P</i> &lt; 0.05), with NRS-derived RE (T5) showing the strongest response. Fillet yield remained unchanged (31.59–34.74%; <i>P</i> &gt; 0.05), whereas fillet weight increased (13.68 to 16.33 g) and fillet selenium increased from 0.34 to 0.52 mg/kg without material changes in moisture or protein. Overall, staged fungal–yeast SSF provides a controllable route to tailor coconut testa LMO composition and improve growth, edible fillet mass, and selenium deposition in tilapia.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"34 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147829206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of chemical-analytical methods to trace the origin of salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) larvae according to the wild or farmed origin of maternal host fish","authors":"Inger Beate Standal,&nbsp;Hans-Christian Teien,&nbsp;Cecilie Miljeteig,&nbsp;Anna S. Båtnes,&nbsp;Trond R. Størseth,&nbsp;Karl Andreas Jensen","doi":"10.1007/s10499-026-02533-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-026-02533-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Salmon lice (<i>Lepeophtheirus salmonis</i>) represent a threat to the wild Atlantic salmon (<i>Salmo salar</i>) populations, and open sea-cage salmon farming contributes to increased abundance and infestation. While models have been developed to predict salmon lice dispersal from host fish, methods able to validate the origin of salmon lice larvae —important for increased understanding of the spread, are lacking. As louse larvae on a fish, or in water samples, may originate from different maternal sources, it is essential to analyze individual larvae. This explorative study assessed several chemical-analytical methods for their potential to trace the origin of individual salmon louse copepodites, specifically to trace whether the maternal louse had been attached to a wild or farmed salmon. Lipid- and combined isotopic (δ15N and δ13C) profiles of salmon lice larvae were characteristic of the host fish’s origin, but reliable analysis of individual larvae was challenging due to the very limited sample amount. Several trace elements such as As and Rb, as well as major elements such as P, K, and Mg, were detectable in individual larvae. Elemental ratios of As/K, Rb/As, and As/P differed whether the maternal louse was attached to a wild or farmed salmon, consistent with patterns observed in adult lice and host fish. Due to their high sensitivity and the potential diet-related differences, elemental profiles represent a promising method for determining the wild or farmed origin of individual lice larvae. However, broader sampling and validation are required to verify whether these fingerprints are sufficiently characteristic and robust.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"34 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10499-026-02533-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147796903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A case study of source use by authors of aquaculture manuscripts","authors":"Malcolm Jobling","doi":"10.1007/s10499-026-02527-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-026-02527-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The misuse of literature sources in scientific manuscripts and published articles was examined in a case study that looked at the occurrence of incorrect citations of a book review (misused source) of a reference work on nutrient requirements of fish and shrimp (legitimate source). The Dimensions linked research database (https://app.dimensions.ai) was used as the source of information about citations and where they occurred. In an initial survey, citations of the book review in published papers were tracked over time (2014–2025), with a total of 350 + citations being listed in the database. A near exponential pattern of increase seemed to reflect the initial creation of a myth, followed by increased citations based on the belief that the book review was a reference work that could be used as a legitimate source. Further investigation revealed that many of the journals implicated in publishing the articles with incorrect citations were regional or parochial in nature and that several of the publishers were of dubious character, but some of the papers with source misuse could be traced to the major publishing houses that have extensive portfolios of scientific journals. The authors that had incorrectly cited the book review included both inexperienced, early-career scientists and academics who had considerable experience of research and publication. The perspective closes with suggestions about mitigation measures, such as pre-submission vetting and control of manuscripts, and increased rigor and vigilance in the quality control of submitted manuscripts prior to peer-review, which could be applied during early stages of manuscript evaluation to reduce the number of cases of misuse of literature sources appearing in published scientific papers.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"34 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10499-026-02527-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147797176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Deep multimodal fusion for aquaculture: a comprehensive review","authors":"Daoliang Li,&nbsp;Shangyi Ji,&nbsp;Wenkai Xu,&nbsp;Zhuangzhuang Du,&nbsp;Sitao Liu,&nbsp;Xin Li,&nbsp;Guangxu Wang","doi":"10.1007/s10499-026-02539-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-026-02539-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Advancing intelligent aquaculture relies on effectively integrating complex heterogeneous data. Deep learning–enhanced multimodal fusion has emerged as a transformative approach for extracting complementary features from visual, acoustic, textual, and other heterogeneous modalities. These approaches demonstrate significant advantages over single-modality methods. In contrast to previous reviews focusing on single modalities or isolated applications, we provide a comprehensive review of deep multimodal fusion methods and their applications in aquaculture. We systematically categorize current fusion approaches into five major categories: encoder-decoder methods, attention-based fusion, graph neural network–based fusion, generative neural network–based fusion, and coordination-based fusion. The review examines their architectural principles, technical advantages, and implementation challenges. Furthermore, practical application analysis in aquaculture covers three critical domains: water quality monitoring and prediction, biomass estimation, and fish behavior analysis. We identify current research obstacles, including data heterogeneity, missing modality handling, real-time processing, and the absence of domain-specific large models. To address these challenges, we explore emerging technologies such as adaptive fusion strategies, edge-cloud architectures, and transfer learning, which can improve system accuracy, robustness, and deployment feasibility. This work provides a roadmap for advancing next-generation intelligent aquaculture systems.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"34 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147797136","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Addressing the escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in fisheries and aquaculture","authors":"Mutum Deepti,&nbsp;Nitesh Kumar Yadav,&nbsp;Naresh Raj Keer,&nbsp;Dushyant Mahavadiya,&nbsp;Parvind Kumar,&nbsp; Madhulika,&nbsp;Dharmendra Kumar Meena","doi":"10.1007/s10499-026-02548-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-026-02548-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a major global challenge in aquaculture, largely driven by the widespread and frequently unregulated use of antibiotics in finfish, shrimp, and shellfish production systems. Intensive farming practices characterized by high stocking densities, suboptimal biosecurity, and limited disease diagnostics increase infection pressure and encourage prophylactic and metaphylactic antimicrobial use. Consequently, antibiotic residues accumulate in water, sediments, and aquatic organisms, imposing strong selective pressure that promotes the emergence and persistence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and accelerates the horizontal transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) within aquatic ecosystems through horizontal gene transfer (HGT) mechanisms such as conjugation, transformation, and transduction. Increasing evidence indicates that aquaculture systems function as critical hotspots for AMR development, facilitating the dissemination of resistant pathogens and ARGs to wild aquatic biota, terrestrial environments, livestock systems, and humans through direct exposure, environmental pathways, and the consumption of aquaculture products. This review synthesizes current knowledge on regional patterns of antimicrobial use in aquaculture. It examines the molecular and ecological mechanisms driving antimicrobial resistance, including antibiotic persistence in water and sediments and the resulting selection pressure on microbial communities. The review also highlights the spread of ARGs through HGT, which contributes to the emergence and dissemination of resistance. Furthermore, it discusses the environmental and public health implications of AMR, particularly the transmission of resistant bacteria and ARGs through aquatic environments and seafood. These pathways may increase the risk of human infections and reduce the effectiveness of antibiotic treatments. It further examines the prevalence and diversity of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in cultured finfish, shellfish, and ornamental species, identifying integrated farming systems as key amplifiers of resistance dissemination. Finally, the review highlights critical gaps in surveillance and governance and emphasizes the urgent need for strengthened regulatory frameworks, comprehensive AMR monitoring, and the adoption of sustainable disease management alternatives, including vaccination, probiotics, immunostimulants, bacteriophage therapy, and phytotherapeutics. Advancing One Health–oriented strategies is essential to mitigate AMR risks, safeguard aquatic animal health, preserve environmental integrity, and ensure global food safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"34 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147738420","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}