<p>Aquaculture has prides itself as the perfect substitute for capture fisheries, broadening the prospects of meeting the global seafood demand that has reached worrisome limits today. Nevertheless, numerous challenges including water quality and disease management have consistently threatened its sustainability. Biofloc technology (BFT) is an innovative approach that enhances aquaculture sustainability by improving nutrient recycling, reduced water utilization, water quality enhancement and organic waste management. The system relies on the cultivation of microbial communities that convert organic wastes like uneaten feed and excreta into valuable biomass, serving as supplementary feed for aquatic species. BFT reduces dependence on external feed inputs as well as provides significant economic and environmental benefits. Studies have shown the efficacy of BFT towards improving feed conversion ratios (FCR) and growth performance in many fish species including shrimps and tilapia. This review emphasized the dual nature of suspended organic matter (SOM) as a substrate for microbial proliferation and nutrient source for culture species. The carbon sources in BFT are grouped as traditional (molasses, sugarcane by-products, starch and flour) and alternative/innovative (agricultural by-products, processed organic waste, glycerol and sucrose) sources. The success of BFT is centred on maintenance of optimal carbon-to-nitrogen (C: N) ratio. Many studies recommend ratio of between 10:1 and 20:1 for improved multiplication of heterotrophic bacteria that degrade nitrogenous waste. Excess accumulation of SOM leads to high biological oxygen demand. In the present study, Advance sludge management, real-time monitoring and alternatives carbon sources are discussed as critical enablers of BFT optimization. It synthesizes recent advancements into microbial dynamics, environmental and policy frameworks necessary for biofloc aquaculture sustainability and environmental management.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>