Enhancing Aquaculture Sustainability: Exploring the Vital Role of Essential Oils in Aquaculture Management and Health Welfare

Abstract

Aquaculture has been an essential component of global food production, but it faces challenges such as disease outbreaks and environmental sustainability. Throughout history, traditional knowledge has relied on plant-based remedies for treating aquatic animal ailments, with essential oils (EOs) emerging as a prominent solution. Essential oils, lipophilic compounds derived from aromatic plants, exhibit diverse chemical compositions and therapeutic properties. Their constituents, including terpenes and oxygenated molecules, contribute to their antimicrobial, growth-promoting, and stress-alleviating effects on aquatic organisms. Moreover, EOs enhance antioxidative capacity and immune responses in fish, bolstering resistance against infectious diseases. Therapeutic potential of EOs, aquaculture practices can improve sustainability and productivity while minimizing dependency on conventional antibiotics and chemicals. Present study provides a comprehensive overview of the significance of essential oils in enhancing aquaculture sustainability and underscores their role in promoting the health and well-being of aquatic species.