Bibliometric mapping of aquaculture competitiveness toward a conceptual model of technology innovation, knowledge management, and sustainability

Aquaculture is a strategic sector fundamental to global food security and the supply of high-nutritional-value products. The objective of this research is to analyze current trends in aquaculture research and the key factors driving the sector’s competitiveness. A scientific and bibliometric mapping workflow was applied to 4,688 documents indexed in Scopus (1977–2025). Thematic configurations were decoded by analyzing the co-occurrence of author keywords using Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) and K-means clustering. By integrating these empirical findings with fundamental frameworks (RBV, TAM, DOI, and TBL), we propose an integrated conceptual model of competitive advantage. This framework places multidimensional sustainability (economic, social, and environmental) at its core. In this model, technology adoption is driven by recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), innovation is linked to Internet of Things (IoT) architectures, and knowledge management serves as a core competency that mediates the relationship among technology, innovation, and sustainable performance. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by expanding the literature, moving from descriptive mapping to a theoretically grounded framework, and positioning it for future empirical validation of competitiveness in the sector.