Toward sustainable aquaculture: Integrating technology, governance, and food security

Global food security is increasingly constrained by population growth, resource limitations, and climate change, while capture fisheries have reached or exceeded sustainable production limits. Aquaculture has expanded rapidly to fill this gap, yet persistent concerns remain regarding its environmental, social, and economic sustainability. This review synthesizes evidence from 1990 to 2026 using a combined systematic and narrative approach to evaluate key sustainability challenges and the effectiveness of existing and emerging solutions. Evidence indicates that established interventions can substantially mitigate environmental impacts: recirculating aquaculture systems significantly reduce water use and nutrient discharge, integrated multi-trophic aquaculture enhances nutrient recovery, and advances in vaccination and selective breeding improve disease resistance. However, adoption remains uneven due to high capital costs, regulatory constraints, and limited accessibility for small-scale producers. Emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, genome editing, and digital traceability, offer further potential to improve efficiency and sustainability, although challenges related to scalability, governance, and social acceptance persist. We propose a “precision sustainability” framework that integrates technological innovation, adaptive management, and inclusive governance to support context-specific solutions. This framework provides a structured pathway to align aquaculture development with environmental protection and social equity, strengthening its role in sustainable global food systems.