Analysis of sustainability differences among various shrimp farming models: a systematic review and meta analysis

Aquaculture technology has diversified over the years, but its environmental impact and negative social effects have raised widespread concern. Currently, research on the differences in aquaculture models mainly focuses on a single dimension, lacking quantitative assessment methods for the various differences in farming models. This study employs a meta-analysis method to identify economic and ecological indicators' data from 136 pieces of literature published between 2002 and 2024. It systematically evaluates the impact of different aquaculture modes and technologies on the comprehensive (economic, ecological, and social) benefits of shrimp farming from multiple dimensions, exploring the differences in benefits between farming modes and the trends as they change with technology and indicators. The results indicate that the Pond Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture model (PIMTA), which uses biological hierarchy technology, exhibits the best comprehensive benefits, followed by the Indoor Super Intensive Recirculating Culture (ISIC_Recirculation), while the Pond Monoculture model (PMC) shows the lowest comprehensive benefits (-1.6425). In terms of ecological benefits, the ISIC_Recirculation model and the PIMTA model perform the best, with total solids (TS), the Shannon index, and microplastics (MPS) significantly affecting the differences in ecological benefits. The Indoor Super Intensive Exchange Culture (ISIC_Exchange) model stands out in terms of social benefits. Regarding economic benefits, the PIMTA model and the Indoor Super Intensive culture models (ISIC) are significantly higher than the PMC model. Based on simulations using collected data, when the survival rate (SR) is greater than 68.37%, the impact of different farming techniques on comprehensive benefits gradually diminishes as the survival rate (SR) increases. Higher pH levels reduce the impact of these differences, while higher dissolved oxygen (DO) levels increase their impact. This study proposes an evaluation method for the differences in comprehensive benefits among aquaculture models and technologies based on meta-analysis. It provides a scientific basis for optimizing the selection of aquaculture models, enhancing farming efficiency, and predicting the long-term trends of benefits from different farming models, thereby promoting the green and sustainable development of the aquaculture industry.