Mapping the trends, knowledge production, and practices of climate-smart aquaculture scholarship: Empirical insights from bibliometric analysis

• Published in: Aquaculture 2025-03, Vol.598, p.741939, Article 741939
• Main Authors: Mdoe, Christopher N., Mahonge, Christopher P., Ngowi, Edwin E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Climate-smart aquaculture (CSAq); Climate-smart aquaculture practices; Integrated aquaculture-agriculture (IAA); Knowledge production; Publication trends
• ISSN: 0044-8486
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2024.741939

This bibliometric review synthesizes the trends, knowledge, and practices in climate-smart aquaculture (CSAq) research globally, underscoring its significance amidst climate change's growing threat to food security and aquaculture sustainability. Using the PRISMA 2020 protocol, 369 records from the Scopus database (2010–2024) were systematically analyzed. The research found a significant rise in CSAq publications over the years, particularly from 2013 onward, with the United States leading with 58 publications, followed closely by India (54), China and the United Kingdom (34 each). Germany had the highest total link strength (55), reflecting its extensive international collaborations in CSAq research. Although most research contributions were from developed countries, there was a notable scarcity of CSAq interventions documented in developing regions, despite being disproportionately impacted by climate change. Statistical analysis of publication trends revealed that the most active journals in CSAq research were Aquaculture, Sustainability (Switzerland), Ocean and Coastal Management, and Science of the Total Environment, with the highest output between 2020 and 2024. Annual publication frequency increased steadily, peaking at 64 publications in 2023, but a drop to 19 in 2024 was observed, attributed to the analysis being conducted before the year's end. Keyword analysis highlighted recurring themes such as “climate change,” “sustainability,” and “food security,” emphasizing the global focus on CSAq as a critical tool for building resilience in aquaculture systems. Notably, Integrated Aquaculture-Agriculture (IAA) emerged as a key practice, alongside polyculture and aquaponics. The study concludes that CSAq research is gaining momentum, driven by global collaborations, but calls for more focus on developing regions, where the impacts of climate change are most severe. •Conducts a bibliometric analysis of climate-smart aquaculture (CSAq) research, identifying global trends and existing knowledge gaps.•Utilizes the PRISMA 2020 protocol to ensure rigour and transparency in bibliometric data collection and study selection.•Employs VOSViewer software to visualize keyword co-occurrence and thematic clustering, revealing prominent themes such as food security.•Highlights geographic disparities in research credit, comparing study locations with researchers' countries of origin.•Provides insights to guide future research and policy, supporting the development of su