The applications of complex network analysis in aquaculture and capture fisheries: a systematic review of trends, challenges, and future directions.

Abstract

The rapid growth of the aquaculture and capture fisheries sector has made a significant contribution to global food security and economic development. However, increasing complexity in managing ecological sustainability, disease control, production efficiency, and supply chain resilience presents ongoing challenges. To address these, complex network analysis (CNA) has been applied to explore interactions among fish species, farms, environmental factors, and stakeholders. This approach provides operational insights, such as identifying vulnerable points in production systems, ecological insights into species and environmental linkages, and economic insights into trade and supply chains, all of which can inform more sustainable management practices. This paper presents a comprehensive review of CNA applications in aquaculture and fisheries, including modelling of disease transmission pathways, gene co-expression networks, trade systems, and production flows. A systematic literature review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines using the Web of Science and Scopus databases. Four major thematic areas emerged from the synthesis: (1) disease spread and control, (2) ecological analysis, (3) genetic analysis, and (4) production and resource flow. Within these themes, researchers used diverse network modelling approaches such as disease transmission models, ecological interaction frameworks, and trade flow networks alongside metrics like centrality measures, clustering coefficients, and modularity to assess structural properties. The review also highlights recurring challenges, including limited data availability, difficulties in model validation, and reliance on static networks that fail to capture temporal dynamics. Future research directions include developing dynamic network models, improving interdisciplinary data integration, and applying machine learning techniques to enhance analytical capabilities. These priorities reflect both the current limitations and the potential for CNA to inform more resilient and adaptive aquaculture and fisheries systems. As the sector continues to expand, CNA offers a valuable framework to support research and management practices that address critical challenges and promote long-term sustainability.