There is growing appreciation of the role of aquaculture in diversifying livelihoods of the poor. However, prevailing cultural norms and values, and social relations often influence its development outcomes, which we explore in this study. Socio-cultural dynamics affect the capacity of resource-poor and marginalized groups for the adoption and retention of aquaculture technologies. Gender norms and gender division of labour in a given community not only influence whether men or women participate in aquaculture but also shape their differential access to resources and position in decision-making, with knock-on effect for aquaculture productivity. Ethnic and cultural norms of collectivism, particularly in traditional fishing communities, support aquaculture efforts, but these are often overlooked by many development endeavours. This review primarily focuses on the socio-cultural factors that shape the contribution of aquaculture to income, nutrition and food security, while acknowledging how socio-cultural dynamics throughout aquaculture production also inevitably affect these outcomes.