Sex reversal and determination technologies in fish aquaculture: Insights from a decade of global research

Sex control technologies are central to modern aquaculture, enabling the production of monosex populations, improving growth performance and reducing reproductive losses. Although narrative reviews have discussed advances in certain methods, a comprehensive scientometric assessment of sex reversal and determination research in fish has not yet been conducted. This study presents a decade-long scientometric analysis (2015–2025) of 516 publications indexed in Scopus, using the R Bibliometrix package to map global trends, thematic evolution and highly cited works. Tilapia remained the reference aquaculture model, but recent diversification extended to catfish, carp, salmon, trout and emerging species such as grouper and cobia. Thematic mapping revealed a shift from hormone-dependent masculinization (e.g., 17α-methyltestosterone) toward environmentally friendly methods such as temperature manipulation, hybridization, functional diets and genomic approaches. China dominated global research output, reflecting its leadership in aquaculture production and investment in genomic resources, followed by notable contributions from Brazil, Japan and the United States, which also demonstrate strong national commitments to advancing aquaculture genomics and biotechnology. In conclusion, this study highlights how the field has evolved into a genomics-enabled, multi-species and sustainability-oriented discipline, providing a knowledge base for advancing aquaculture productivity and environmental responsibility.