The emergence of antimicrobial resistance has become a critical concern in aquaculture. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), a class of small, natural or synthetic peptides that protect hosts from microbial infections, offer a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics. To evaluate the current status and research trends of AMP in aquaculture, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of 1956 publications (from 1990 to 2024) retrieved from the Web of Science, using the Bibliometrix R package and CiteSpace. The results showed that the study of AMPs in aquaculture has entered a phase of rapid development since 2015, marked by exponential growth of publications. Chinese research institutions and scholars have played a leading role, contributing over one‐third of all publications. However, their involvement in multicountry collaborations remains significantly lower than that of other countries, highlighting the need for enhanced international collaboration. Thematic evolution analysis based on keywords reveals a shift in research focus from gene cloning and antibacterial activities to mechanisms of action and practical applications. Overall, this bibliometric study offers a comprehensive overview of the current landscape, research hotspots, and future directions of AMP research in aquaculture, providing valuable insights for advancing the field.

Open sea cage culture has become a major trend in mariculture, with strong wind resistance, wave resistance, anti‐current ability, high degree of intensification, breeding density, and high yield. However, damage to the cage triggers severe economic losses; hence, to adopt effective and timely measures in minimizing economic losses, it is crucial for farmers to identify and understand the damage to the cage without delay. Presently, the damage detection of nets is mainly achieved by the underwater operation of divers, which is highly risky, inefficient, expensive, and exhibits poor real‐time performance. Here, a remote‐operated vehicle (ROV)‐based autonomous net detection method is proposed. The system comprises two parts: the first part is sonar image target detection based on NanoDet. The sonar constantly collects data in the front and middle parts of the ROV, and the trained NanoDet model is embedded into the ROV control end, with the actual output of the angle and distance information between the ROV and net. The second part is the control part of the robot. The ROV tracks the net coat based on the angle and distance information of the target detection. In addition, when there are obstacles in front of the ROV, or it is far away from the net, the D‐STAR algorithm is adopted to realize local path planning. Experimental results indicate that the NanoDet target detection exhibits an average accuracy of 77.2% and a speed of approximately 10 fps, which satisfies the requirements of ROV tracking accuracy and speed. The average tracking error of ROV inspection is less than 0.5 m. The system addresses the problem of high risk and low efficiency of the manual detection of net damage in large‐scale marine cage culture and can further analyze and predict the images and videos returned from the net. https://youtu.be/NKcgPcej5sI.

It has been reported that phenylalanine (Phe) or tyrosine (Tyr) supplementations significantly affect fish stress and welfare biomarkers. The objective of this study was to determine the amount of Phe/Tyr in the diet and feeding time necessary to mitigate stress. Seabreams (Sparus aurata) were stocked at 5 kg m−3 in 500 L tanks. The experimental treatments consisted of different types of feeding: control, Phe‐enriched (5%, 7.5%, 10% on dry food), and Tyr‐enriched (5%, 7.5%, 10%) food for 2, 4, or 8 days each. At the end of each experimental treatment, fish were sampled for blood, and 10 fish from each treatment were previously subjected to stress by exposure to air (3 min) and sampled 30 min and 2 h later. Plasma glucose, lactate, proteins, cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline concentrations were measured. Dietary Tyr supplements led to high mortalities in long treatments (8 days). The best results for attenuating stress biomarkers were found for the 10% Tyr supplements for 4 days since this treatment kept the maximum number of stress biomarkers with no significant changes. The correlations between biomarker concentrations and amino acid (AA) concentration/supply time were not always significant, though it seems that Tyr supplements present more consistent effects, the increase in Tyr concentration or feeding period being related to decreasing biomarker concentrations.

The aquaculture industry is seeking sustainable feed alternatives to enhance the health and growth of farmed fish during their early life stages. Live feed, such as the annelid worm Enchytraeus albidus , has been shown to increase growth in marine fish species. This study evaluates E. albidus as a potential starter live feed for rainbow trout fry ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ), focusing on growth, health, and fatty acid composition. Fry were fed one of three diets: standard dry feed (DF), live E. albidus (EF), or a combination (DF/EF) for 21 days, followed by a transition to DF for the following 22 days. Fry initially fed with EF exhibited higher growth rates compared to those on DF, and they maintained superior size even 3 weeks after being transitioned to DF. At the end of the experiment, the fish fed EF had a 10% higher mass than fish fed DF. No significant differences were found in health indicators across the treatment groups, which all demonstrated good health and low mortality. The fatty acid profiles differed between treatments, with lower essential fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels in fish fed EF. However, despite the lower body levels, critical DHA levels seemed to be preserved in the neural tissues of the fry. These findings highlight the potential of E. albidus as an effective starter feed for rainbow trout fry.

Japanese puffer (Takifugu rubripes) is an important mariculture species, but the development of the aquaculture industry has been accompanied by serious disease problems. Vibrio harveyi is one of the most important pathogens in T. rubripes. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanism responsible for intestinal mucosal immunity of T. rubripes during V. harveyi infection, we established a transcriptome of the posterior intestine of T. rubripes after 0, 3, and 24 h of infection with V. harveyi. 12 fish (weighing 300 ± 5.5 g) were randomly selected from 60 T. rubripes and four were assigned to each time point. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 3,042 and 3,342 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at 3 h and 24 h, respectively, compared with those at 0 h. Enrichment analysis of these DEGs revealed significant mucosal immune‐related pathways, including cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction, phagosome, and cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) signaling pathways. In addition, the intestinal histopathological changes were explored after V. harveyi infection. Further analysis showed that the structure of infected intestines was still integrated, with the majority of the pathological trauma occurring in the submucosa. Our results provided new insights for further study of the mucosal immune defense mechanisms of fish against V. harveyi, promoting our understanding of this severe disease.

Monogeneans are ectoparasites that in high densities, can cause harm and even death to their hosts. Therefore, treatment methods are continuously evaluated. The current study aims to determine the LC50 of ionic silver and silver‐engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) (nAg) in the monogenean Macrogyrodactylus congolensis and report on the toxicological effects of silver on the parasite by using their behavioural response as an indicator. Macrogyrodactylus congolensis were exposed in vivo to a range of ionic Ag and nAg concentrations for 12 h in three water media (reverse osmosis [RO], borehole, and aged tap water). The LC10, LC20, and LC50 were determined using ToxRat Professional. Behaviour was assessed using low, medium, and high concentrations (calculated from the parasites LC50) of ionic silver and nAg in the different water media. Videos were recorded with a camera for 5‐min periods at 0, 1, 3, 6, and 12 h intervals. The videos were analysed using Noldus EthoVision XT software. The results demonstrated significant increases in the acceleration of movement, body contact between parasites, the distance travelled, mobility, and swimming speed when exposed to increased concentrations of silver. Changes that have been observed are most likely in response to toxicological stress and neurological damage caused by silver. Furthermore, silver and RO water being the most toxic, and aged tap water is the most optimal water medium. Furthermore, parasites showed an increase in behavioural changes as exposure concentrations increased. Lower LCx values were recorded when parasites were exposed to the ionic Ag compared to the nAg in all water media, indicating that the ionic silver was more toxic to M. congolensis than nAg, which highlights the need for the safe development of nanotechnology.

Milt cryopreservation facilitates native fish’s constant production of commercial interest. However, it can damage spermatozoa (sptz) due to the osmotic stress of diluents and low temperatures. This study compares spermatic quality in fresh (SF) and cryopreserved (CS) milt in B. amazonicus for 24 h, 1 month, and 3 months. Eight sexually mature males were induced with carp hypophysis extract. Milt was diluted in one proportion in a glucose solution (5.5%), egg yolk (12%), and dimethyl sulfoxide (10%). An evaluation of parameters such as motility, viability, morphology, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) contents was performed at 24 h, 1 month, and 3 months, and the fertility test was conducted at 24 months of cryopreservation. The motility percentage was higher (p ≤ 0.05) in SF (95.5 ± 2.9%). Motility duration of SF was significantly higher (113.6 ± 22.6 s) than that of CS at 3 months (71 ± 12.2 s). The spermatic viability of SF was higher (97.1 ± 1%) in comparison with CS treatments. Sperm anomalies in SF were lower (12.4 ± 3.2%) than in all other treatments. ATP contents of (1.74 ± 4.5 nM × 108 sptz) were superior only (p ≤ 0.05) in CS of 1 month (1.16 ± 1.2 nM × 108 sptz). TAC was higher (p ≤ 0.05) in SF (26.46 ± 1.2 mM of Trolox [6‐hydroxy‐2,5,7,8‐tetramethilcromane‐acid 2‐carboxylic]) compared to other CS treatments. However, there were not any significant differences in this parameter between cryopreservation times (p ≤ 0.05). Fertility rates were the same for all treatments. In terms of cellular ultrastructure, it was observed that B. amazonicus sptz had an oval‐shaped head without an acrosome, middle part, and only one flagellum.

To be economically viable and improve welfare, innovative feeding regimes are imperative for achieving high growth and survival rates in gilthead seabream larval production. In a gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) larvae trial, we compared four novel feeding regimes to the standard diet (Std‐Art), which included consecutive feeding of Brachionus plicatilis (Rot) and Artemia salina (Art) from 4 days post‐hatching (dph) until weaning at 32 dph, followed by microdiet (MD) until 56 dph. All newly formulated feeding regimes included MD mostly from first‐feeding, with variations in live feeds provided. The first regime included initial consecutive feeding of Acartia tonsa nauplii (Cop) and then Artemia until weaning at 26 dph (MDe‐Cop‐Art). The second regime involved rotifer feeding until 20 dph (MDe‐Rot), while the third provided A. tonsa until 20 dph (MDe‐Cop). The fourth regime featured consecutive feeding of two copepods species, the regularly used A. tonsa and a newly tested tropical species, Apocyclops panamensis (from nauplii to copepodite) until 20 dph, introducing MD at 18 dph (MDa‐2Cop). The MDe‐Cop‐Art regime substantially outperformed all other regimes in survival rate (37.5% ± 2.7% vs. 21.1% ± 2.7% of Std‐Art) and total biomass production per tank (69 ± 7 g vs. 16 ± 7 g of Std‐Art). This highlights the advantage of feeding copepods over rotifers and emphasises the importance of a short Artemia inclusion, potentially improving feeding activity, digestion and assimilation. Co‐feeding live feed with MD from first‐feeding was found to enhance growth and survival, indicating the progressive adaptation of larvae to the physical and biochemical characteristics of the MD. This adaptation likely promoted earlier maturation of the digestive system and improved nutrient uptake and utilisation. Considering the overall growth and survival performance, the incorporation of MD from first‐feeding, coupled with A. tonsa and followed by a short Artemia feeding is highly recommended for gilthead seabream larvae commercial rearing.

This study examined the impact of dietary synbiotics on the growth performance, muscle proliferation, and intestinal histomorphology of Gangetic mystus (Mystus cavasius). Synbiotics, which combine probiotics and prebiotics, are thought to enhance fish health by improving a balanced gut microbiota. Four experimental diets were prepared with different concentrations of synbiotics (0%, 4%, 6%, and 8%) and fed to this fish over a 45‐day period. Growth performance of the fish significantly improved as the level of synbiotics in their diet increased. Key metrics like final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), and food conversion ratio all showed improvement. The diet containing 8% synbiotics resulted in the highest growth rates. A second‐order polynomial regression of SGR revealed that the optimal growth occurred when the diet included ~8% of synbiotics. Histological analysis revealed that the 8% synbiotic diet led to the greatest increases in villi length, villi width, and goblet cell numbers, indicating enhanced gut health and nutrient absorption. Liver histology showed improved hepatocyte health, while muscle tissue analysis demonstrated higher muscle cell counts with higher synbiotic inclusion. These findings suggest that dietary synbiotics can effectively boost growth performance, intestinal structure, and tissue development in Gangetic mystus, offering potential benefits for aquaculture practices. Future research should explore the long‐term effects and applicability of synbiotics across various fish species and environmental conditions.

The mud crab (Scylla paramamosain), a commercially important species in China, is widely distributed along the southeastern coast. This study compares the growth performance, morphological traits, and transcriptomic profiles of two geographically distinct populations from Sanmen County, Zhejiang (SMC) and Zhangpu County, Fujian (ZPC). Juvenile crabs collected from both regions were reared in ponds under identical conditions for 7 months. Key results showed that the SMC population exhibited significantly higher daily weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), and propodus‐to‐cheliped length ratio compared to ZPC (p < 0.01 for both sexes). Transcriptomic analysis revealed 44 consistently upregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in SMC individuals. Among these, Otop (Otopetrin 1), Smyd (SET and MYND domain containing), AM1159 (Cancer pagurus Cuticle protein AM1159), PPAF1 (PPAR gamma coactivator 1 α), and NARG2 (NMDA receptor regulated 2) were functionally linked to molting and growth regulation in crustaceans. Notably, two mTOR pathway‐associated genes (QDPR [Quinoid dihydropteridine reductase] and NLRC 3 [NLR family CARD domain containing 3]) and several energy/nutrient metabolism genes were also upregulated in SMC. Enrichment analysis identified four active KEGG pathways in SMC: “Melanogenesis,” “Riboflavin metabolism,” “Choline metabolism,” and “Ribosome biogenesis.” These findings suggest that the superior growth performance of SMC crabs may stem from enhanced molting efficiency and nutrient allocation mechanisms. While QDPR and NLRC3 are hypothesized to mediate mTOR‐driven metabolic regulation, further functional validation is required to establish their causative roles. This study provides molecular markers (Otop, Smyd, etc.) for selective breeding programs and a transcriptomic framework for understanding regional adaptation in marine crustaceans.