<p>Assessing the sustainability of aquaculture practices is essential to meeting increasing food demands while minimizing environmental impact. This study uses a comprehensive set of economic, environmental, and social indicators to evaluate the sustainability of pond-based tilapia farming in Brazil, using two Brazilian watersheds as a case study: Três Barras and Capivari. Três Barras, characterized by low-intensity and extensive farming, revealed limitations in water quality monitoring, high reliance on natural resources, and limited administrative planning, but showed positive inclusivity indicators. Conversely, Capivari’s intensive farming systems showed advanced automation, renewable energy integration, and stronger environmental controls, although these farms faced challenges including dependency on a narrow customer base and worker training needs due to automation complexity. Results underscore the critical role of production intensification level and highlight the benefits of tailored governance, cooperative support, and stakeholder integration to enhance sustainability in aquaculture. Combining the most suitable sustainability indicators, this study offers insights to guide policy and management strategies that support resilient aquaculture systems in similar global contexts.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>