Aquatic Plants: The Unsung Heroes of Water Quality Management
Aquatic plants are vital for improving water quality and promoting sustainable aquatic
ecosystem management through natural phytoremediation. The present article summarizes the
roles of emergent, floating, and submerged macrophytes in removing excess nutrients, trapping
suspended solids, enhancing dissolved oxygen, supporting beneficial microorganisms, and
sequestering heavy metals. Species such as Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, Ipomoea
aquatica, Lemna spp., and Azolla spp. effectively reduce pollutants from aquaculture effluents
and wastewater. Their integration into aquaculture systems improves water quality, lowers
disease risks and operational costs, and produces valuable biomass for feed, fertilizer, and
bioenergy. The article also highlights their application in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems
(RAS) and Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), emphasizing careful species
management to maximize environmental sustainability and support the blue economy.