Unmanned aerial vehicles in fisheries and aquaculture: a comprehensive overview

The fishery and aquaculture sectors are essential to the global food supply but face multiple challenges, including security, fish welfare, and feeding management. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have emerged as a groundbreaking technology in these fields, providing innovative solutions for monitoring, management, and conservation. In addition to addressing these challenges, UAVs enhance operational efficiency and contribute to sustainable practices in fisheries and aquaculture. This review paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the current state of UAV applications in these sectors, with a particular focus on year wise publications and citation trends. The classification of UAV types is also examined, highlighting their varied uses ranging from fish stock assessment to habitat monitoring. The paper further explores the utility of UAVs in enhancing fish production processes and their potential role in conservation strategies. Looking forward, the review outlines future prospects, emphasising the pivotal role of UAVs in advancing fish production techniques and fostering sustainable aquaculture practices, as well as their contribution to effective conservation management in aquatic ecosystems. This paper aims to provide a critical overview of the existing research while offering insights into how UAV technology can be leveraged for long-term advancements in both the production and conservation of aquatic resources.