Constructed wetlands (CWs) are increasingly recognized as sustainable systems for the treatment of aquaculture wastewater, where nutrient removal is governed by complex interactions among plants, microbial communities, and substrate processes. This review critically evaluates the potential role of selected textile and industrial crops - Chrysopogon zizanioides (vetiver), Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass), Cannabis sativa (hemp), and Hibiscus cannabinus (kenaf) - within CWs designed for aquaculture effluent remediation. The analysis highlights that nutrient removal is predominantly microbially mediated, while plant contributions are largely indirect, influencing rhizosphere conditions, oxygen transfer, and biomass harvesting dynamics. Among the evaluated species, vetiver demonstrates the strongest evidence for direct application in aquaculture wastewater, including tolerance to mesohaline conditions and effective nitrogen and phosphorus removal. Reed canary grass shows robust performance in CW systems, particularly when biomass management strategies are optimized, although aquaculture-specific data remain limited. Hemp is primarily supported as a biochar-derived substrate for phosphorus adsorption rather than as a planted macrophyte, while kenaf lacks direct evidence in CW contexts, representing a significant research gap. The review further emphasizes the importance of hydraulic loading rates, salinity tolerance, and plant–microbe interactions in determining system performance. Future research should prioritize long-term, field-scale studies and a mechanistic understanding of trait-mediated plant effects to optimize the integration of industrial crops into aquaculture wastewater treatment systems.
