Occupational health and safety risks in the global seafood and aquaculture industry: a systematic review of physical, biological, and psychosocial hazards

Abstract Purpose The seafood industry is rapidly expanding under the “blue economy” initiative, transitioning from traditional wild-capture fisheries to intensified aquaculture and automated processing. However, this industrial shift has introduced complex occupational health and safety (OHS) challenges. This systematic review aims to synthesize global evidence regarding physical, biological, and psychosocial risks across the entire seafood value chain. Methods Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, a systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for articles published between 2000 and 2026. Twenty-five studies met the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted and their quality assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) and Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklists. Results The analysis reveals a “triad of risk” characterizing the modern industry. First, traumatic injury rates remain alarmingly high, with distinct patterns observed in capture fisheries versus aquaculture. Second, biological hazards have evolved beyond simple infections to complex bioaerosol-induced respiratory diseases (asthma/rhinitis) and chemical exposures. Third, psychosocial risks, particularly among migrant and female workers, are exacerbated by precarious employment and “production pressure.” Conclusion The seafood industry exhibits a hybrid risk profile where traditional safety hazards coexist with emerging occupational diseases. Based on the synthesized evidence, addressing this complex risk profile suggests that sustainable development of the sector requires a paradigm shift from reactive accident prevention to proactive health surveillance and inclusive safety management systems.