Vol. 7, Issue 6, Part C (2025)

An industry that is growing quickly and is essential to the world's food security is aquaculture. However, the hunt for sustainable alternatives has been fueled by issues including antibiotic misuse, environmental concerns, and disease outbreaks. A viable remedy is probiotics, which are good bacteria that support fish health.
The gut microbiome is critical in maintaining fish health and productivity in aquaculture. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of gut-associated bacteria in various aquaculture species, focusing on their diversity, functional roles, and interactions with the host. Beneficial bacteria contribute to nutrient metabolism, immune modulation, and disease resistance, while pathogenic bacteria can disrupt gut homeostasis, leading to infections and reduced growth performance. Diet, water quality, antibiotics, and probiotics significantly influence gut microbial composition. Understanding these microbial communities is essential for developing sustainable aquaculture practices, including probiotics and prebiotics for disease prevention and growth enhancement. This review highlights recent advancements in microbial research, emerging technologies for microbiome analysis, and potential strategies for improving fish health through targeted microbiome management.