A recent review published in 2025, “Potential Antibiotics Contamination in Aquaponic Systems: Antimicrobial Gene, Mitigation and Treatment Approaches”, explores the growing concern of antibiotic residues in aquaponics — a sustainable method combining aquaculture and hydroponics. The study examines how antibiotic use in aquaculture can introduce resistance genes into aquatic systems, potentially affecting fish, plants, and human health.

The review also highlights current strategies to mitigate contamination, including monitoring antimicrobial genes, optimizing water treatment methods, and employing advanced bioremediation techniques. These insights provide crucial guidance for developing safe, sustainable, and resilient aquaponic practices while addressing the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance.

The research was published in Aquaculture and Fisheries, a Scimago-ranked Q1 journal that provides a timely resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners aiming to enhance food safety, ecosystem health, and sustainable agriculture in aquaponic systems.

The study was carried out by undergraduate students [Suniti Shrestha (2076 Batch) and Suman Poudel (2076 Batch)] with Dr. Bhesh Kumar Karki, and supervised by Assoc. Prof. Shukra Raj Paudel, IOE, Pulchowk Campus, Prof. Raju Kumar Gupta form IIT Kanpur, and Prof. Michael J. Angove from La Trobe University, Australia.

Synopsis: Human activities contribute to contamination, affecting system components, and this study proposes strategies/ technologies to mitigate antibiotic risks for safer, sustainable aquaponics for future generation.

Weblink: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468550X25001613