Abstract This review aimed to explain vulnerability and climate change impacts on tropical aquatic fisheries and aquaculture focused on the Asian setting using a systematic literature review. In particular, the present study applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) to evaluate the available literature from 1990 to 2020. The study results showed clustering of texts, keywords and titles based on the search terms, e.g. climate, change, fisheries, Asia, adaptation, climate change, fisheries, and aquaculture. Using the text, links with high scores showed the following categorization per cluster: 1) Climate change and food security; 2) Biodiversity and environmental protection; 3) Conservation of resources; 4) Climate change impacts in Asia; 5) Fisheries. While for the abstracts and titles produced the following clustering: 1) Livelihood and food security; 2) Fisheries catch; 3) Approach to stakeholders; 4) Ecosystem services. Climate change or global environmental change dominates vulnerability and adaptation scholarship, but it is only one of the stressors causing vulnerability among fishing and aquaculture sectors. Several studies suggest adaptation as a solution leading to less vulnerability and resilience of fishing communities. However, our findings showed that social and economic factors of climate-induced vulnerability are still relatively neglected. Besides, keeping biodiversity and enhanced environmental protection can lead to a more productive and food-secure environment for farmers and fishers. Therefore, the interventions needed would always lead towards adaptation. Finally, establishing a science-based “adaptive fishery co-management” to further engage with fishing communities by addressing their wider vulnerabilities and aspirations (livelihood needs).