Fabio Carneiro Sterzelecki

For decades, public and, at times, scientific debate has placed fisheries and aquaculture on opposing sides. On one hand, capture fisheries are viewed as a declining activity, pressured by overfishing and the vulnerabilities of natural stocks due to climate change. On the other hand, aquaculture is frequently promoted as a solution to global food insecurity, yet is often criticized for its environmental impacts-such as water eutrophication, mangrove destruction, and, ironically, its dependence on wild-caught fishmeal to feed carnivorous farmed species.It is within this context that the present Research Topic, published in the Marine Fisheries, Aquaculture and Living Resources section of the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, is situated. The Research Topic collection addresses the most recent advances in the scientific debate on sustainability in seafood production, encompassing both aquaculture and fisheries."The application of intelligent production technologies, including automation of capture operations, artificial intelligence feeding systems, IoT-based water quality monitoring, and disease prediction based on multi-source big data, can enhance fisheries production efficiency, optimize resource allocation, and reduce ecological risks. Chen Li et al. showed that the smart fishery not only improves the economy and fishermen's income, but also benefits environmental conditions in China.The use of modern bioinformatic technology, such as machine learning and neural networks, also contributes to fishery improvement. Yildiz et al. provided the first systematic analysis of Automatic Identification System gaps in Black Sea fisheries, offering valuable insights into the causes of these data gaps and the implications for fisheries management. By integrating spatial and temporal analyses with machine learning techniques, the findings contributed to monitoring strategies, regulatory enforcement, and sustainable resource use.In this context, Hu et al. developed an intelligent forecasting model for aquatic production based on an artificial neural network. This study also highlights the key drivers affecting aquatic production, including economic, climatic, and demographic factors.Modern biotechnology also contributes to improving aquaculture and fishery production, especially in animal reproduction. Molecular analyses enable more precise control over reproductive management in farmed fish. Early sex identification of fish improves husbandry decisions and production efficiency in aquaculture. In this context, Hu et al. analysed the foxl2 gene from Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) in relation to sex differentiation, thereby contributing to artificial fish reproduction and caviar production.The analysis of the population dynamics and characterization of the fishery generate important data for the sustainability of the seafood resource. The study by Trindade et al. characterized the size composition of the goliath catfish (Brachyplatystoma vaillantii) captured by the Amazon industrial fleet, as well as the vulnerability of juveniles in relation to the spatial and seasonal pattern of the Amazon estuary. This commercially important species from Northern Brazil is currently overfished. The study highlights the need for more effective spatial and temporal fisheries regulations. Similarly, with a focus on sustainability, Carneiro et al. characterize the strategies of small-scale artisanal fishers in the Eastern Amazon.In China, Lauden et al. have examined the population dynamics and seasonal variation (winter-summer) in the biological characteristics of black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii) to contribute to the stock management.The small-scale octopus fishery presents a specific assessment challenge; however, Prince et al. developed and tested a novel size-based data-poor assessment methodology, demonstrating its applicability in Indonesian fisheries for Octopus cyanea. This study contributes to the octopus stock data and management.One of the main concerns associated with trawl shrimp fisheries is the ecological impact, primarily due to the unintentional capture of non-target organisms. Peixoto et al. evaluated the impacts of industrial bottom trawl for the southern brown shrimp on the Amazon Continental Shelf in Northern Brazil. The findings enable the development of appropriate management strategies to reduce mortality and plan measures that support sustainable fishing practices.Global warming is threatening life on Earth and seafood production, and seaweeds play a central role in climate regulation and carbon sequestration. The study by Zhang et al. investigated the effects of light intensity on seaweed carbon assimilation and release in two strains of Pyropia haitanensis.Finally, salmon cage aquaculture has a substantial impact on the seabed. Wang et al. analyzed chemical and biological variables directly beneath and in surrounding areas, contributing data to support new regulations in Norway.In summary, the body of work assembled in this Research Topic advances a compelling and unified message: the sustainability of future seafood production hinges on overcoming the historical divide between fisheries and aquaculture research. Across diverse geographic and ecological contexts, the included studies demonstrate that intelligent production technologies, modern bioinformatics, molecular biotechnology, population dynamics modeling, and ecological impact assessments are not mutually exclusive domains but rather complementary tools within an integrated scientific framework.Key findings indicate that artificial intelligence and neural network models can optimize aquatic production forecasting; molecular approaches, such as sex determination gene analysis, enhance reproductive management in aquaculture; and refined population assessments provide critical data for the management of overfished species, from the Amazon to the Black Sea. Concurrently, methodological innovations for data-poor...

Aquaculture in the Amazon region has considerable potential to promote the sustainable use of natural resources. The integration of fish farming and forest has emerged as a resource-efficient strategy for sustainable production. This study aimed to evaluate the growth of mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) seedlings in integrated systems with tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum), using different spacings (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 cm) between seedlings. After 56 days of cultivation, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, total ammonia, and nitrate were significantly affected in the systems (p < 0.05). Tambaqui growth performance differed significantly between the aquaponic systems (p < 0.05). Regarding mahogany seedlings, root fresh mass, collar diameter, and the Dickson quality index were also significantly affected by the treatments (p < 0.05). The results demonstrate that aquaculture–forestry integration, using tambaqui effluent as a nutrient source for mahogany seedlings, is a technically viable and environmentally promising production strategy. Among the treatments evaluated, the 25 cm spacing produced seedlings with superior quality attributes, suggesting that wider spacing may promote seedling development under aquaponic conditions. These findings highlight the potential of integrated aquaponic systems for the sustainable production of both forestry and aquatic resources in the Amazon region.

Introduction: The Blue Amazon represents an extensive coastal zone with high biodiversity and wide salinity variation, which poses challenges for marine fish farming, particularly regarding the efficiency of biofilters in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). In this context, açaí seeds ( Euterpe oleracea ), previously evaluated in freshwater, emerge as a promising alternative for use as filter media under different salinity conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of açaí seeds as substrate in RAS biofilters, analyzing their acute and chronic impact on the physicochemical parameters of water and the removal of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate over 28 days. Methods: The experiment was conducted in six independent systems (three aquaria each), subjected to salinities of 0, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35‰. After Acute (0, 20, 40, 60,80,100 and 120 minutes) and chronic (2,3,4,14,21 and 28 days) salinity change, water samples were collected to measure physicochemical quality and to assess nitrification efficiency and nitrogen compound removal. Results: Higher oxygen consumption and ammonia clearance were observed at 0, 7 and 14‰ after 120 minutes of salinity change, while nitrate accumulation was significantly higher in freshwater. In long term, after 28 days, ammonia clearance was significantly lower at 35‰, though nitrate accumulation was not affected by salinity. The highest ammonia removal rates were recorded in the 0‰ and 7‰ treatments. Discussion: The results demonstrate that açaí seeds are capable of removing ammonia after a few minutes and can sustain the growth of nitrifying bacteria under different salinity levels, although more efficiently in low salinity waters (seven times).

This study evaluated the effects of different physical processing methods of palm kernel meal (PKM) included in experimental diets on growth performance, hematological parameters, gene expression, somatic indices, and body composition of Colossoma macropomum juveniles. The 45‐day experiment used 120 juveniles (156.30 ± 5.73 g; 21.40 ± 0.30 cm) randomly and equally distributed among 12 1000‐L tanks in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), with four treatments: a control diet containing unprocessed PKM (C) and diets containing PKM subjected to water immersion (WI), microwave irradiation (MI), and WI followed by MI (WIMI), with three replicates per treatment. Growth performance, survival, somatic indices, and body composition did not differ among treatments, although the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was higher only in fish fed the WIMI diet (0.98 ± 0.02). Dietary treatments affected several hematological parameters. Fish fed WI showed higher hematocrit (45.67 ± 0.02), mean corpuscular volume (MCV; 253.80 ± 17.67), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH; 51.98 ± 4.75) than the control group, whereas WIMI reduced total white blood cell (0.009 ± 0.002) and lymphocyte (0.007 ± 0.001) counts. Regarding the expression of genes related to digestion, WI increased the expression of pept1 (3.25 ± 2.48) and trypsin (7.56 ± 2.08), indicating a transcriptional response associated with genes related to digestion and peptide transport; however, these changes alone do not demonstrate improved digestive function or nutrient absorption. Overall, physical processing of PKM, particularly WI, influenced hematological responses and the expression of digestion‐related genes without affecting growth, survival, or total body composition. Further studies evaluating enzyme activity, nutrient digestibility, and functional protein responses are needed to determine the physiological relevance of these transcriptional changes.

The global demand for sustainable food systems requires innovative strategies that reconcile productivity with environmental stewardship, particularly in biodiversity-rich regions such as the Amazon. This study evaluated the cultivation of Acmella oleracea (jambu) using effluent from Colossoma macropomum (tambaqui) aquaculture as a partial substitute for chemical fertilizer. Five treatments were tested under greenhouse conditions: 100% fertilizer, 75% fertilizer, 50% fertilizer, 25% chemical, and 0% fertilizer. Significant treatment effects were observed for leaf number, plant height, stem diameter, and shoot biomass, while root biomass showed no differences. Treatments with 100%, 75%, and 50% fertilizer exhibited statistically similar performance across several growth parameters, indicating that up to 50% of the chemical fertilizer can be replaced by aquaculture effluent without significant yield reduction. Treatments with 50% fertilizer and 0% fertilizer showed reduced growth and higher tissue accumulation of nitrate and ammonium, reflecting nutritional imbalances. In parallel, tambaqui showed 100% survival and satisfactory growth, confirming the stability of the integrated system. These results highlight that, although exclusive use of effluent is insufficient to match chemical fertilizer, partial substitution represents a viable strategy to reduce input costs and recycle nutrients, reinforcing the bioeconomic potential of aqua-culture–agriculture integration in the Amazon.

Com o objetivo de estimar o crescimento e o rendimento de carne dos juvenis de garoupa verdadeira, Epinephelus marginatus, realizou-se o estudo morfométrico de 143 indivíduos obtidos pela desova induzida da Fazenda Marinha Prime Seafood (Alcobaça/BA, Brasil). As medidas morfométricas obtidas foram o comprimento padrão (CP), medido em centímetros da extremidade bucal ao pedúnculo caudal, e o comprimento da cabeça (CAB), compreendido entre a extremidade anterior da cabeça e a borda caudal do opérculo; medidos por meio de um ictiômetro. Já a largura do corpo (L), medida na região do 1º raio da nadadeira dorsal, e a altura do corpo (A), medida à frente do 1º raio da nadadeira dorsal e na região anteroventral do peixe. A variância dos dados ocorreu no peso total (PT), com 196,042 gramas e um peso médio de 58,5 gramas, e a menor para a largura do peixe (L), com 0,122, significando que estão mais próximos da média (2,178 cm). O maior valor encontrado para o desvio padrão foi para o peso total (PT), com 14, e o menor para a largura do peixe (L) (0,335). Esta variável, largura do peixe (L), com baixo desvio padrão, indica que os dados estão menos dispersos e próximos do valor esperado. O estudo concluiu que todas as correlações foram positivas. A partir das correlações entre peso e medidas morfométricas de juvenis de garoupa, obtiveram-se equações de diferentes funções, possibilitando, inclusive, a estimativa de peso e rendimento de carne nessa fase e sistema de cultivo.

The use of aquaponic systems has grown in recent years, but few of these systems have integrated the production of prawns and short-cycle vegetables. This study evaluated the potential for producing microgreens (beet, amaranth, arugula, and red cabbage) integrated with Amazon River prawns (Macrobrachium amazonicum) in an aquaponic system. Four seeding densities (5, 10, 15, or 20 seeds/cell) were assessed in two treatments: one using prawn wastewater and the other using plain dechlorinated water (control). Water quality, prawn growth performance, and microgreen productivity were monitored over 13 days, revealing optimal conditions for both prawns and microgreens in the aquaponic system. Amaranthus paniculatus yielded 374.00 g/m² in prawn wastewater compared to 231.34 g/m² in the control, while Beta vulgaris produced 1734.39 g/m² in wastewater versus 1127.69 g/m² in the control. Similarly, Brassica oleracea (2180.69 g/m²) and Eruca sativa (2109.46 g/m²) had higher yields in the prawn aquaponics system. These findings demonstrate that integrating prawn cultivation in aquaponic systems significantly enhances microgreen production compared to traditional methods. This integrated approach not only improves yields but also offers a more sustainable production model. Significant variation in productivity and growth metrics among species treatments underscores the viability and need for more systematic aquaponic procedures.

The aim of this study was to investigate the ideal density to use in transport operations for Brazilian sardines Sardinella brasiliensis (Steindachner, 1879). For this purpose, 4,020 juveniles S. brasiliensis (0.51 ± 0.10 g and 3.89 ± 0.32 cm) were randomly distributed in 60L-polyethylene bags filled with 20 L of water (salinity 35 g/kg) at densities of 15, 10, 5, 2.5 and 1 g∙L-1, all in triplicate. The transport bags were inflated with pure oxygen (about ⅔) and sealed with elastic bands. The duration of the simulated transport was 24 h. Then, survival rate, as well as analyses of water quality, was performed. The results showed that density had considerable influence on survival and water quality. At the density of 15 g∙L-1 dissolved oxygen reached 0.0 mg∙L-1, causing 100% mortality at the end of the experiment, while the density of 10 g∙L-1 showed a higher amount of N-NH3 in the water. Survival was the same at densities below 10 g∙L-1. Densities ≤ 10 g∙L-1 are recommended for the transport of S. brasiliensis lasting up to 24 h.

The Lebranche mullet Mugil liza is a marine fish of great importance for artisanal and industrial fishing, as well as aquaculture. The use of live feeds during the larviculture phase of marine fish is a significant component of production costs. The present study evaluated the effects of the feeding transition on different larval stages of M. liza, from the combined supply of live feed (Brachionus rotundiformis + Artemia franciscana) and live + inert feed (Artemia franciscana + inert diet) until the weaning phase to only the inert diet. A total of 3240 M. liza larvae (weight 0.0133 ± 0.0062 g and length 0.793 ± 0.160 cm) were distributed among the 12 experimental units (n = 270), resulting in four groups with three replicates each. Treatment groups consisted of feed transition with A. franciscana (enriched metanauplii) to commercial inert feed starting weaning at four different larval ages: 28, 31, 34, and 37 days post hatching. Zootechnical performance indexes and intestinal histomorphometry were evaluated. Mortality, condition factor, and length variation coefficient did not show significant differences between treatments. Final weight, final length, weight gain, and length gain were significantly greater in larvae that started weaning at 31, 34, and 37 days post hatching. Weight coefficient of variation was significantly higher in larvae that started weaning at 28 days (67.51 ± 11.70) compared to 37 days (34.40 ± 7.30). In intestinal histology, villi height (180.3 ± 4.4) was significantly higher in larvae that started weaning at 37 days post hatching. Considering the evidence found in the present study, it is recommended to start weaning M. liza on the 31st day post‐hatching, using a 2‐day co‐feeding protocol (31st and 32nd days). From the 33rd day after hatching, M. liza larvae can receive only commercial feed.