Reassessing the Role of Nanoparticles in Core Fields of Aquaculture: A Comprehensive Review of Applications and Challenges

Abstract

The application of nanoparticles (NPs) in aquaculture has emerged as a promising frontier to enhance productivity, sustainability, and environmental stewardship. This comprehensive review explores the integration of NPs across core fields of aquaculture, including nutrition, health management, water treatment, breeding performance, sex manipulation, and waste management. NPs offer innovative solutions for improving fish growth rates, enhancing feed efficiency, and providing targeted drug delivery systems (DDSs) to combat diseases. The antimicrobial properties of NPs effectively target and eliminate bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. NPs play a critical role in improving water quality by removing pollutants and pathogens, promoting a healthier aquaculture environment. They also aid in waste management by breaking down and recycling waste, reducing the ecological footprint of aquaculture. However, concerns about the toxicity of NPs present significant challenges. Future directions point to the importance of thorough risk assessments, the establishment of regulatory guidelines, and the adoption of sustainable approaches to fully leverage the advantages of NPs in aquaculture. Further research is essential to understand the long-term impacts and safety of NPs in aquatic ecosystems. Addressing the issues above, the aquaculture industry can leverage NPs to adopt more sustainable and efficient practices, ensuring both food security and environmental protection.