Circular Blue Business Model in Biofloc Fish Cultivation Based on Circular Economy and Blue Economy
A Literature Review
Keywords:
Circular Blue Business Model (CBBM), biofloc aquaculture, circular economy, blue economy, systematic literature review, sustainable business modelAbstract
The aquaculture sector faces a dual challenge: rising global food demand and the degradation of aquatic ecosystems caused by exploitative conventional practices. To address this, a systemic transformation is required that integrates sustainability principles into business logic. This study aims to develop the Circular Blue Business Model (CBBM), a strategic business model that combines circular economy principles (closing material loops and regenerating resources) with blue economy principles (sustainable utilization of fisheries resources) within the context of biofloc fish farming enterprises. By employing a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach following the PRISMA 2020 protocol, this research analyzes 60 Scopus-indexed scientific articles (2015–2025) and maps conceptual relationships using VOSviewer. Findings reveal a fragmented literature between circular and blue economies, a dominance of technical perspectives in biofloc studies, limited integration of strategic and business dimensions, and insufficient attention to the roles of micro-enterprises and local institutions. Sustainability emerges as a conceptual bridge, but is rarely operationalized as a core business model design principle. Based on these insights, this study proposes the CBBM as a holistic framework comprising four key elements: (1) an ecosystem-regeneration-based value proposition, (2) value creation through biofloc circular economy practices, (3) value delivery via cross-sectoral partnerships, and (4) fair and inclusive value capture. The CBBM not only addresses theoretical gaps among technology, policy, and business strategy, but also offers practical guidance for entrepreneurs, policymakers, and academics in advancing a resilient, inclusive, and SDG-aligned aquatic food system.
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