Can multiple fish farms be integrated within a semi-enclosed bay without causing acute ecosystem degradation?

Puhr, Kristijan; Pikelj, Kristina; Fiket, Željka (2017) Can multiple fish farms be integrated within a semi-enclosed bay without causing acute ecosystem degradation?. Oceanologia, 59 (3). pp. 318-330. ISSN 0078-3234

Preview

PDF - Published Version - article Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (2MB) | Preview

Abstract

The current study explores the possibility that multiple fish farms (FFs) containing sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and sea bream (Sparus aurata) can be successfuly integrated within a semi enclosed bay in the Croatian Adriatic. The research focuses on determining principal environmental factors (EFs) that control the integration and atempts to estimate their individual and synergic ability to influence deposition and removal of organic matter (OM) and trace elements (TE) from the system. The complexity of the designated tasks demanded a comprehensive number of various datasets and samples to be used in the analysis. The ADCP data revealed strong wind induced currents forming within the research domain resulting in high system flushing efficiency (3.5 – 6 days). The sediment samples from all stations contained relatively inert minerals which contributed to overall low OM and TE concentrations and very limited variability found across the entire bathymetric range. The thermal advection effect recorded at two stations was attributed to specific seabed topography and the hydrodynamic response formed during Maestral wind episodes. The results indicate that a successful integration of four FFs has taken place within the research site (semi enclosed bay), and that the key EFs responsible for its success are strong wind induced hydrodynamics, favorable seabed topography and sediment mineral composition. The synergy of the principal EFs that formed within the system was found to have an attenuating effect regarding FFs chemical influence (OM and TE) and an amplifying one regarding spatial footprint which extended to ≈ 2000 m distance.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Aquaculture; nutrient enrichment; seabed topography; wind induced hydrodynamics; sediment
Subjects:	NATURAL SCIENCES > Geology
Divisions:	Division for Marine and Enviromental Research
Projects:	Project title Project leader Project code Project type Transport i kemodinamika elemenata u tragovima u slatkovodnim i priobalnim sedimentacijskim sustavima-TRACESS Goran Kniewald IP-2013-11-7555 HRZZ Recentni sedimenti i fosilni okoliši jadranskog priobalja- Mladen Juračić 119-1191152-1169 MZOS
Depositing User:	Željka Fiket
Date Deposited:	09 Aug 2017 12:09
URI:	http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/3525
DOI:	10.1016/j.oceano.2017.03.006

Actions (login required)

View Item