Fei Zhao , Xianming Li

Aquatic Biology Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Marine Science, 2026, Vol. 16, No. 4   
Received: 13 Jun., 2026    Accepted: 18 Jul., 2026    Published: 30 Jul., 2026

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) have emerged as an important technology for sustainable aquaculture development due to their advantages in water conservation, environmental control, and high-density fish production. However, maintaining optimal water quality and preventing fish health problems remain major challenges in intensive RAS operations. This review focuses on the relationship between water quality control and fish health management in recirculating aquaculture systems. The fundamental mechanisms regulating water quality are first discussed, including the dynamics of dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, carbon dioxide, and microbial communities. The impacts of water quality fluctuations on fish physiological responses, growth performance, immune function, and disease susceptibility are further analyzed. Subsequently, advances in monitoring technologies, including sensor networks, Internet of Things (IoT) platforms, and data-driven approaches, are summarized for real-time environmental assessment and management. Strategies for maintaining stable water conditions, such as mechanical filtration, biological treatment, oxygen regulation, nutrient management, and microbial regulation, are evaluated. A case study framework is presented to demonstrate the integration of water quality monitoring, fish health assessment, and intelligent management strategies in commercial RAS facilities. Furthermore, the potential applications of artificial intelligence, predictive modeling, and automated control systems are discussed. Future research should focus on multi-source data integration, intelligent decision-support systems, and sustainable management technologies to improve production efficiency, fish welfare, and environmental sustainability in recirculating aquaculture.

Recirculating aquaculture systems; Water quality control; Fish health management; Intelligent aquaculture; Biofiltration technology