From Rock Pools to Aquaculture: The Genus Tigriopus as an Experimental Model and Emerging Aquaculture Resource

Crab aquaculture in Asia: Current status, challenges, and future prospects

Shellfish aquaculture is an important component of global aquaculture, particularly because of the high economic value of many crustacean species. Among these crustaceans, mud crabs (Scylla spp.) are important high-value aquaculture species in tropical and subtropical Asia. Global farmed mud crab production increased from 150,751 tonnes in 2010 to 296,848 tonnes in 2021, with China contributing approximately 51% of global production, followed by Vietnam and the Philippines. Four species, S. serrata, S. paramamosain, S. olivacea and S. tranquebarica, are commercially important, although their distribution and importance in aquaculture vary among Asian countries. Mud crabs are mainly produced through pond, pen and cage grow-out, short-cycle fattening and soft-shell farming, while mangrove-integrated and other integrated farming systems are also practised. Despite the growth of the industry, production in several Asian countries remains dependent on wild-collected juveniles and fresh feeds. Disease occurrence, environmental impacts and market-related constraints further affect production and long-term sustainability. Recent advances in hatchery production, formulated feeds, health management and integrated farming offer opportunities to improve production efficiency and sustainability. Future development should prioritise reliable hatchery seed production, reduced dependence on wild resources, improved feed and farm management, effective biosecurity and protection of mangrove and other coastal habitats. Therefore, this review provides an updated synthesis of the current status and geographical distribution of mud crab farming in Asia, with particular emphasis on cultured species, culture and fattening systems, technological advances, environmental and socio-economic aspects, major production constraints and future priorities for sustainable industry development.

The Narrow-Clawed Crayfish Pontastacus leptodactylus: Functional Nutrition, Health Management, and Strategies for Sustainable Production

The narrow-clawed crayfish (Pontastacus leptodactylus) is a native Eurasian species of significant ecological importance and increasing commercial interest, representing a promising species for freshwater aquaculture development. Although the species demonstrates broad physiological tolerance to varying environmental conditions, its intensive cultivation remains limited by persistent biological constraints, including high juvenile mortality, cannibalism associated with asynchronous molting cycles, and vulnerability to crayfish plague caused by Aphanomyces astaci. Building on recently published comprehensive accounts of the biology and distribution of the species, this review focuses specifically on nutritional optimization and technological integration as pathways for overcoming these key production constraints. Recent advancements in sustainable aquafeed formulations are evaluated, with particular emphasis on the substitution of fishmeal with alternative protein sources, including insect-based meals and microalgae, alongside the application of prebiotics, synbiotics, and functional feed additives to modulate gut microbiota, enhance antioxidant capacity, and improve stress resistance. Environmental management strategies, including habitat enrichment, stocking density optimization, and photoperiod manipulation, are further examined for their roles in reducing agonistic interactions and improving animal welfare under intensive culture conditions. The epidemiology of A. astaci is further discussed within the context of biosecurity strategies aimed at protecting both aquaculture systems and native freshwater biodiversity. In addition, the potential contribution of nutritional conditioning to host immune resilience against pathogen exposure is discussed as an underexplored but promising management strategy. Overall, current evidence suggests that the long-term scalability of P. leptodactylus aquaculture depends on the adoption of recirculating aquaculture systems, biofloc technology, and genomic breeding tools, integrated with optimized nutritional and welfare-oriented management strategies, to achieve sustainable intensification and commercial viability.

Decline in Kappaphycus alvarezii invasion in the Gulf of Mannar, India

Although the decline in invasion of red seaweed in the Palk Bay–Gulf of Mannar region of India is encouraging for coral reefs, the findings raise questions about the ecological and socioeconomic consequences of introducing non-native aquaculture species under Blue Economy initiatives, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions vulnerable to climate change.

Aquaculture ponds as reservoirs of freshwater microalgae with biotechnological potential: growth kinetics, biomass productivity, and biochemical profiles

Aquaculture ponds represent nutrient-rich and dynamic systems that function as reservoirs of underexplored native microalgae pre-adapted for cultivation. In this study, freshwater microalgae were isolated from Nile tilapia aquaculture ponds in São Paulo State, Brazil, and evaluated for growth kinetics, biomass productivity, biochemical composition, and FAME profiles. The isolates comprised nine chlorophytes and one cyanobacterium distributed across multiple taxonomic orders. Marked interspecific variability was observed under standardized cultivation conditions. Microcystis wesenbergii and Scenedesmus sp. exhibited the highest specific growth rates and maximum cell yields. M. wesenbergii also achieved the greatest biomass concentration (0.92 g L−1) and productivity (34.98 mg L−1 day−1). Protein was the dominant macromolecular fraction in most strains, particularly in Scenedesmus javanensis and Crucigeniella pulchra, exceeding 34% DW, highlighting their potential for protein-oriented applications. Chlorococcum sp., Kirchneriella sp., and M. wesenbergii showed the greatest carbohydrate accumulation, reaching up to 12% DW, whereas the highest lipid content was recorded for S. javanensis (14.1% DW). FAME analysis of selected strains revealed a predominance of palmitic acid among saturated fatty acids (reaching up 54.11% of total FAMEs in Kirchneriella sp.) and high proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly γ-linolenic (reaching up to 42.10% of total FAMEs in Chlorella vulgaris), underscoring the potential of these strains for nutraceutical and functional lipid applications. Overall, freshwater aquaculture ponds harbor taxonomically and functionally diverse microalgal strains with significant biotechnological potential, as demonstrated by the integrated evaluation of their growth performance and biochemical composition, supporting these environments as strategic sources for microalgal bioprospecting.

Wild-harvesting of the fucoid Fucus vesiculosus (Phaeophyceae) at an active oyster aquaculture site

Macroalgae are seen as a sustainable resource for industries including agriculture, food, and nutraceuticals. Aquaculture is the dominant form of global seaweed biomass production, yet wild-harvesting remains important in Europe. Fucoid species such as Fucus vesiculosus commonly colonise intertidal shores and artificial structures, including oyster farms in Ireland, where they represent a largely unexploited biomass resource. However, the amount of biomass produced annually on oyster farms is unknown, making it unclear whether this resource could be harvested sustainably and potentially provide a new opportunity for shellfish farmers. Hence, this study investigated the potential for sustainable harvesting by management of F. vesiculosus fouling on an oyster aquaculture site, quantifying post-harvest seaweed biomass yield and regeneration. F. vesiculosus thalli were harvested under three treatments, a control (no cut), a longer cut to ~6 cm (Cut L) and a shorter cut to ~3.5 cm (Cut S) and regrowth was quantified over a 12-month period from April 2025 to 2026. The harvested F. vesiculosus thalli regenerated up to 87% of pre-harvest lengths within 12 months. The thalli showed non-linear seasonal growth patterns, with thallus lengths increasing over time. The Cut S treatment resulted in a higher relative growth rate among treatments and a greater initial biomass yield of 0.54 kg per m of trestle. Having determined the total number of oyster trestles in a 1 km stretch of shoreline, we estimated that ~11 tonnes of biomass could be harvested using the Cut S treatment. Our results suggest that low intensity partial harvesting of settled F. vesiculosus on oyster farms could be sustainable, and our results provide proof-of-concept for future co-location of Fucus crops and oysters within a shellfish aquaculture site.

Marine microalgae as potential source for sustainable aquafeeds: A scientometric perspective on stewarding aquaculture sustainability