Phytobiotics for Stress Management: Advancing Aquaculture Welfare

Abstract

Stress poses a critical challenge in aquaculture, exerting detrimental effects on the health, growth, immune competence, and survival of cultured fish species. In response, phytobiotics—bioactive compounds of plant origin—have emerged as viable and sustainable alternatives to synthetic therapeutics, offering potential to enhance stress resilience and overall welfare in aquatic organisms. This chapter elucidates the physiological consequences of stress in fish and presents empirical evidence on the modulatory role of phytobiotics in mitigating oxidative stress, regulating immune responses, and maintaining metabolic homeostasis. Phytobiotics contribute to the enhancement of endogenous defense systems, particularly through the activation of antioxidant pathways that alleviate oxidative damage at the cellular level. Additionally, some phytobiotics influence neuroendocrine signaling pathways involved in the stress response. By enhancing immune function and stabilizing metabolic processes, phytobiotics improve stress tolerance, which in turn leads to better growth performance, feed efficiency, and survival. Furthermore, advancements in delivery and formulation technologies have broadened the applicability of phytobiotics in aquafeed development. Due to increasing consumer demand for environmentally responsible and welfare-centered aquaculture, the integration of phytobiotics into conventional farming practices represents a promising strategy to support fish health and promote long-term industry sustainability.