Natural Biotics as Biocontrol Agents for Sustainable Aquaculture

Abstract

Aquaculture has evolved as one of the most dynamic industries in food production, representing the fastest-growing activity in meeting global food demand. Nevertheless, its rapid expansion is accompanied by significant challenges, including water pollution and the proliferation of pathogens that induce stress in aquatic organisms, leading to disease outbreaks and high mortality rates. To mitigate these problems, antibiotics and chemical agents are widely used to control infections. However, their excessive application results in residual contamination and promotes the emergence of drug-resistant bacterial strains. As a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative, probiotics, prebiotics, and phytobiotics have attracted growing interest as substitutes for conventional chemotherapy in aquaculture. These functional feed additives enhance disease resistance and exhibit diverse bioactivities, such as antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic effects. Additionally, they improve growth performance, strengthen immune responses in cultured species, and contribute to better water quality. This review synthesizes current findings on the role of probiotics, prebiotics and phytobiotics in advancing sustainable aquaculture practices worldwide, while critically discussing their limitations, such as species-specificity, dose and duration responses, and potential long-term risks, thereby providing valuable insights to guide future research and innovation toward environmentally responsible and health-promoting solutions in the aquaculture industry.