Research dynamics in intensive aquaculture technologies with special reference to recirculating aquaculture system and biofloc technology: a scientometric analysis

Abstract Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and biofloc technology (BFT) are increasingly recognized as sustainable aquaculture approaches, as they enhance water-use efficiency, improve biosecurity, allow high production intensity, and mitigate environmental impacts by reducing effluent discharge and promoting internal nutrient recycling. The present study aims at thescientometric analysis of emerging intensive aquaculture technologies, especially Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) and Biofloc Aquaculture System (BFT), in terms of examination of the publication trend(s), citation pattern, prolific contributors, underpinning the research hot-spots and the top journals publishing articles on the subject under study. The data was retrieved from ‘Scopus’ and downloaded data file was processed in ‘Biblioshiny’ application of ‘R’ software for scrutinizing records and standardizingthe data where required. The study encompasses a total of 853 articles that have been published in 369 journals, with an average annual growth rate of 1.45%, contributed by the 3349 authors of 86 countries with an average of 5.23 authors with 20,232 citations. The last 14 years, viz. 2011–2024 witnessed a three-fold increase in papers in comparison to 2001–2010, totaling 640. The pearson-correlation to examine the relationship between the years of publications vis-à-vis citations revealed non-significant small negative relationship between the year of publications and respective average citations earned per paper, (r(44) = 0.0958, p = 0.526). The distribution of articles on RAS and BFT in journals closely approximates to the three zones of Bradfords’ Law of Scattering i.e. 1:k:k2 or 1:n:n2. The study revealed the need for strengthening of collaborations at authors, institutional and international levels for continued growth of RAS and BFT research vis-à-vis need for exploring the implementation of emerging computational technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine Learning (ML) to RAS and BFT to get optimal outcomes.