Characterization of Pond Effluents and Biological and Physico-chemical Assessment of Receiving Waters in Ghana

SUMMARY

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 environme...read more