Vet World Vol.18 January-2025 Article - 3
Review Article
Veterinary World, 18(1): 15-28
https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2025.15-28
Emerging challenges in aquaculture: Current perspectives and human health implications
2. Department of Animal Science, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria.
3. Department of Food Science and Microbiology, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria.
4. Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
5. Department of Microbiology, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
Aquaculture, the cultivation of aquatic organisms for human consumption, has become an essential contributor to global food security. However, it faces numerous challenges that threaten its sustainability and capacity to meet the growing demand for animal protein. This review investigates these challenges, with a particular focus on environmental degradation, public health risks, and ethical dilemmas posed by genetic interventions in fish breeding. Despite the promise of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in enhancing fish production, their integration into aquaculture remains controversial due to potential risks and unresolved ethical questions. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of these pressing issues and propose pathways for sustainable aquaculture development. With the global population increasing and the demand for animal protein intensifying, aquaculture holds great potential as a sustainable food source. However, its contribution to global protein demand remains minimal, projected to decline to as low as 4% in the coming decades. Furthermore, aquaculture’s environmental impact, including pollution of water bodies and ecosystem disruption, poses serious threats to biodiversity and public health. Addressing these challenges is critical for ensuring the long-term viability of aquaculture. By exploring the intersection of sustainability, ethics, and innovation, this review provides valuable insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers seeking to advance sustainable aquaculture practices. This study aims to evaluate the current state of aquaculture and identify key challenges related to environmental sustainability, public health, and ethical considerations. It seeks to explore the potential of sustainable practices and genetic interventions to address these challenges while balancing the need for increased production and societal acceptance. The ultimate goal is to offer practical recommendations for fostering a resilient and ethical aquaculture industry capable of meeting future global food demands.
Keywords: antibiotic resistance, aquaculture effluent, eutrophication, food safety, genetic engineering
How to cite this article: Ruben MO, Akinsanola BA, Okon ME, Shitu T, and Jagunna II (2025) Emerging challenges in aquaculture: Current perspectives and human health implications, Veterinary World, 18(1): 15-28.
Received: 2024-06-24 Accepted: 2024-12-04 Published online: 2025-01-09
Corresponding author: E-mail:
DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2025.15-28
Copyright: Ruben, et al. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http:// creativecommons.org/ publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.
