Journal of Scientific Research and Reports

Aquaculture has overtaken capture fisheries to become the primary source of aquatic food for human consumption, and its continued expansion raises pressing questions about its contribution to climate change and its capacity for decarbonisation. This narrative review synthesises peer-reviewed evidence on the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint of aquaculture, the measurement frameworks used to quantify it, and the technological and governance pathways that could plausibly guide the sector toward net-zero production. The review examines emission hotspots across the aquaculture value chain—particularly feed production, on-farm energy use, and biological GHG fluxes from pond systems—before evaluating the decarbonisation potential of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), low-trophic species farming, feed reformulation, renewable energy integration, and seaweed-based carbon sequestration. The literature search drew on the following databases: Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, and three field-specific resources—the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Publications Repository, the Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA) database, and the CGIAR/WorldFish Digital Archive. The analysis reveals that, while aquaculture's aggregate GHG contribution currently stands at roughly 0.49% of global anthropogenic emissions, substantial inter-system variability exists, and projected sectoral growth could materially increase this share without deliberate mitigation. Standardised carbon measurement methodologies, species-specific decarbonisation strategies, and enabling policy frameworks—including carbon pricing and green certification—are identified as essential elements of any credible net-zero pathway. The review concludes that net-zero aquaculture is achievable in principle, but requires integrated action across feed innovation, energy transition, production system redesign, and carbon governance. Net-zero aquaculture is achievable. Its achievement will require not a single solution but a coherent portfolio of interventions across the full value chain—and the political will, institutional coordination, and sustained scientific investment to implement them at scale.