Aquascope

Introduction

Forms of aquaculture

Why aquaculture

History

Which specie

Problems associated with aquaculture

Cultivating molluscs

Cultivating blue mussels

Cultivation methods

Problems associated with mussel cultivation

Threats

Poisonous mussels?

Foodstuffs
(recipe)

 Environmental problems associated with aquaculture

Those environmental problems that are often associated with aquaculture are:

The occurrance of oxygen deficient bottoms

These problems are commonly associated with the cultivation of fish. Modern fish farms are very intensive, are monokultured and usually run on a large scale, while demanding the addition of resources from a large area, on both land and sea. These resources comprise fodder pellets, broods, spawn, chemicals and energy. Fodder pellets are usually made of fish that have been captured in other maritime areas and agricultural products, while chemicals are used to try and keep the fish well and healthy. Many of these resources are not utilized fully by the fish and pass straight through the farm and into the sea. Waste from fish farms is composed av excrement, waste food and chemicals.
    The most obvious short term effect of intensive farming is the release of suspended material and nutritive salts. The surroundings areas are effected to varying degrees depending on the farms location, production volumes, cultivation techniques and if processing takes place at the same location.
    Environmental effects can be reduced by a collection of measures, such as changing the composition of the fodder, collection and reuse of waste products, by combining cultivation methods (integration) and by using food that is found naturally in the water.
    For mussel and algae cultivation, the circumstances are different and the problems are not as immense. Because no extra food or chemicals are supplied, the problem of illness and the the supply of nutritive salts is eliminated. There is much research being conducted around mussel and algae farming and it is believed that they can even have a positive effect on the environment.

 

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© Aquascope 2000   Tjärnö Marine Biological Laboratory, Strömstad, Sweden
Bo Johannesson | Martin Larsvik | Lars-Ove Loo | Helena Samuelsson