Enhancing Aquaculture using Nanotechnology: A Review

Abstract

The advent of nanotechnology is a laudable discovery, and to a large extent, it has the potential to solve many nagging problems in the  aquaculture industry. For instance, the challenge of recurring resistance of bacteria to antibiotics, and the myriad of different antibiotics  in the market coupled with their toxic effect on fish and water is a serious concern. Nanotechnology provides new tools (Nanomaterials)  that can find applications in various aspects of aquaculture with little or no risk of toxicity. These include Nanosensors, DNA nano- vaccines, nano-gene delivery, smart drug delivery, nanobarcoding, fish growth enhancement using nano-selenite, nano delivery of  nutraceuticals, nanofilteration, nanopolymers, nano-coating, nano-feed to improve buoyancy and availability of feed during feeding, and  nano-net treatment and so on. These products are readily available in the market. They can also be synthesized for application in the  areas highlighted above. This paper presents a review of nanotechnology and its application to enhance various aspects of aquaculture  to find effective management strategies to solve hydra-headed challenges bedevilling the aquaculture industry by maximizing the full  potential of nanomaterials.