Enhancing fish health and ensuring environmental resilience in ecosystems supporting sustainable tourism through integrated genetic and nutritional approaches

Abstract

Aquatic bio-ecosystems are very important for ensuring sustainable tourism, as these ecosystems support healthy fish populations and strong environmental conditions. Nevertheless, international evaluations suggest that more than 37% of the managed fish stocks are overexploited, and habitat destruction and climate change have also contributed to a reduction of biodiversity of over 20% in freshwater systems over the last 30 years. These forces undermine the ecosystem services that are essential to tourism, such as recreational fisheries, biodiversity viewing, and water quality maintenance. This research paper examines a combined genetic and nutritional model to improve fish health and increase the overall resilience of the environment in tourist-driven aquatic ecosystems. The methodology entailed selective breeding using genomic marker-assisted selection and the optimization of functional feed formulations containing omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, and immunostimulants. Three fish populations were tested over 24 months to determine growth performance, disease resistance, survival, and ecological impact, including water quality and nutrient cycling. Genetic assays were aimed at alleles linked to stress tolerance and resistance to pathogens, and nutritional interventions were evaluated through controlled feeding trials and field-based ecology. Findings showed increases of 28% in growth rates, 40.8% reduction in disease incidence, and 22% in survival rates of populations under environmental stress compared to control populations. The parameters measuring water quality, such as ammonia and nitrate, improved by 15–18%, indicating better nutrient assimilation. Moreover, the biodiversity indices of the surrounding habitats increased by 12%, indicating positive ecosystem spillover effects. To sum up, the combination of genetic enhancement and precision nutrition would greatly improve fish health and ecology. It is a sustainable method of reducing environmental pressures, promoting sustainable tourism through sustainable aquatic ecosystems, enhanced biodiversity, and the sustainable economic sustainability of communities reliant on fisheries and ecotourism.