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Characterization of effluent or potential effluent quality according to type of system
Environmental impacts of aquaculture on aquatic ecosystems are related to the species cultured, location of installations, intensity of operations, the morphology, limnology and hydrology and trophic status and assimilative capacity of the receiving water. These wide ranges of factors determining pollution potential of aquaculture necessitates a different way of categorizing aquaculture systems, even for those that culture the same or similar species with emphasis on management practices besides intensive, semi-intensive, and extensive. Differences between large- and small-scale systems can be specifically demonstrated by characterizing their effluents.
Physicochemical analyses are often included as the only means to verify the quality of water in potential effluents. Characterization of effluents would allow for a proactive management of the environmental effects of aquaculture. Proactive action will forestall the restrictive regulations that could result from regulatory agencies acting on insufficient or even exaggerated assessments of the industry. Characterization of receiving water quality in terms of nutrients, suspended solids, and pathogens
Questions to be answered include:
1. What is the quality of receiving streams?
2. Can the release of pond effluents change the concentration of receiving water quality constituents, or are they already in high levels?
Investigation of the biological effects of ponds on receiving waters using structural and functional composition of fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages
It is obvious that water chemistry alone will not be enough to determine the effects of pond effluents on the quality of receiving waters. Water quality constituent concentrations will be altered only for a short period after the release of effluents into a lotic water-body. Nevertheless, the functional composition of fish and macroinvertebrates (biomonitoring) gives a more reliable indication of any stresses to the ecosystem.
Development of best management practices (BMPs) for pond aquaculture in Ghana
BMPs are practices thought to be the most effective, yet practical, methods of reducing environmental impact levels to those compatible with resource management goals. A number of BMPs have been proposed, with some farmers having already employed some of these practices, like drainage ditches to improve effluent quality. I am studying the management practices being employed on fish farms in Ghana, and then correlating them with concentrations of water quality variables in ponds on each farm.
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