Wastewater treatment is part of the ongoing post-processes that the Aquaculture industry must deal with as part of their routine practices. This is an aspect that needs continuous attention given the reinforcement of regulations. To attend to these continuous demands, algae cultivation systems have supplied proven and sustainable solutions in different aquaculture applications, for example, serving as feedstock for juvenile shrimp cultivation, or providing a natural stock for oxygen supply in fish cultivation. The current work intends to review a state-of-the-art application of algae systems in the aquaculture industry, emphasizing its benefit for wastewater treatments.
The utility of algae systems has been maximized when deployed as algae turf scrubbers (ATS). This technology based on periphytic filamentous algae can remove nutrients from water streams, serving in some cases as a better perfoming alternative to traditional filtration systems. The introduction of ATS in aquaculture cultivation has not only been demonstrated on fish with tilapia and catfish but also in cultivation of oysters. Their use in broader aquaculture applications has been limited, however, likely due to some operational constraints and confusion about their utility and application. This review will summarize past applications of attached algae systems in aquaculture production, and focusing on new opportunities for cultivation and sustainability approaches that will serve as a reference for specialists in this sector.