Abstract: Diatom is a main component of phytoplankton and benthic algae in marine aquaculture areas and is important food organisms of marine fish,shellfish and shrimps,which plays a very important ecological role in element cycle and energy flow in marine aquaculture waters. In the present paper,a review is made on the study progress focusing on the diatoms in the marine aquaculture waters including the following aspects:diatom species diversity,nano-diatom and its role,taxonomy of diatom,nutrition value of diatom cells as animal food. This review is made aiming on increasing our knowledge on diatom taxonomy,species diversity,and their relationship with aquaculture capacity and aquaculture environment changes.