Editorial: Functionality and applications of phytochemicals in aquaculture nutrition

Abstract

The aquaculture industry is a fast-growing sector amongst the food production sectors, as its growth is strongly associated with the continuous increase of the global population. This industry effectively contributes to food security by providing nutritive and healthful aquatic foods and manufactured products for human beings (1). The chief target of this valuable sector is to raise the production rates with cost-effective benefits to enlarge the profitability margins for fish farmers. This goal has directed the visions of farmers and aquaculturists for the application of intensive farming systems by increasing the total biomass per unit surface area or water volume. Although this farming system has maximized productivity, it may induce several drawbacks and side effects if the fish are not carefully monitored or controlled environments are not maintained. If these conditions are not found, deterioration of the water quality parameters (particularly elevated un-ionized ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, organic matter, or decreased dissolved oxygen levels) will occur. Furthermore, the possibility of flourishing emergent diseases (bacterial, fungal, or viral) will occur and spread rapidly among the farmed fish (2). Deteriorated water quality will induce stressful environmental conditions, disrupt the physiological responses of the exposed fish, trigger immune suppression, compromise health, and consequently cause high mortalities. Besides, the emergence of infectious pathogens will cause heavy kills and subsequent critical economic loss.