Use of hydrodynamic and benthic models for managing environmental impacts of marine aquaculture

By A. Henderson, S. Gamito, Ioannis Karakassis, P. Pederson, A. Smaal. 2001

99 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Regulation to minimize impacts from aquaculture is of key concern in coastal zone management for the sustainability of the industry and the receiving environment. Market and consumer forces are presently driving much of this regulation and its implementation. Mathematical modelling can provide the tools for planning and monitoring as well as regulation, and a number of countries have well-developed policies and procedures in place which utilize modelling tools. The main impacts currently modelled are nutrient enhancement, organic waste deposition and the dispersion and deposition of medicines and chemicals. The release of these wastes is influenced by species- and site-specific characteristics, as well as culture and husbandry techniques. The modelling process requires consideration of definitions and limitations; standards for model development including clear objectives and justification; good technical description; use of good and appropriate data; calibration; validation; sensitivity analysis; quality assurance; auditability and consideration of the operational needs of the user, the grower and/or the regulator. Models should have simplicity and clarity; be fit for purpose; be open to scrutiny; be accessible, user-friendly and be used with caution. Current models are considered to be limited in scope but do cover the main hydrodynamic and particulate processes. The regulation and monitoring of finfish aquaculture involving the direct use of models is apparently restricted to relatively few countries where they are involved in setting holding capacity, the licensing of medicines and for assessing site applications. Different approaches have been developed in different countries as required. In contrast, many countries do make considerable indirect use of modelling techniques within the regulation process. With respect to shellfish, models are in current use to predict and optimize exploitation capacity but there is scope for studying nutrient flux, habitat degradation and deposition below suspended systems. Future developments for finish need to better address the main question of holding capacity or exploitation capacity in relation to nutrients and medicines release, including whole water body/regional impacts. The relationship and predictability of toxic algal blooms remains some way off. Modelling the complexities of degradation, resuspension and the effect of the scavenging process on the transport of in-feed medicines is required. Keys to future developments across Europe include accessibility, setting of Environmental Quality Standards or targets, training and support for users, resources and structured research.

Subfields: Aquatic Science, Global and Planetary Change

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/344fd7f91386e9fa34d01a9ffa04e467020f8957

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In Aquatic Science

H. Thetmeyer

In Global and Planetary Change

Citations in the corpus

Effects of mussel (Perna canaliculus) biodeposit decomposition on benthic respiration and nutrient fluxes (2006, background): “These models focus on bivalve growth and food supply but there is a need for a more accurate representation of the effects of biodeposition on sediment nutrient fluxes and habitat degradation since these processes can influence ecosystem productivity ( Henderson et al. 2001 ).”
Sedimentation rates in a suspended mussel farm (Great-Entry Lagoon, Canada): biodeposit production and dispersion (2006, background): “A better understanding of the relationship between these factors is necessary in order to make accurate predictions of benthic loading and subsequent effects on the local environment (Henderson et al. 2001).”
Dusky dolphin foraging habitat: overlap with aquaculture in New Zealand (2004, background): “However, such effects of aquaculture on wild dolphins are rarely considered in models for managing the environmental impacts of marine farming (e.g. Henderson et al., 2001).”
A fully integrated GIS-based model of particulate waste distribution from marine fish-cage sites (2006, background): “Across Europe the extent to which such models are used for this purpose varies widely (Henderson et al., 2001).”
Impact of fish farms on maerl beds in strongly tidal areas (2006, background): “…have been based largely on studies of fish farms located in sheltered conditions with open-ocean mariculture operations being considered advantageous, because they use locations in which enrichment effects can be mitigated by increased current activity and dilution (Henderson et al. 2001).”
Settling velocity of faecal pellets of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) and sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) and sensitivity analysis using measured data in a deposition model (2006, unknown): “…have been designed to enable prediction of dispersion and deposition of organic fish farm waste (Hevia et al., 1996; Silvert and Sowles, 1996; AWATS–Panchang et al., 1997, Dud-ley et al., 2000; MOM–Ervik et al., 1997; Henderson et al., 2001; DEPOMOD–Cromey et al., 2002a,b; Perez et al., 2002).”
Review of recent carrying capacity models for bivalve culture and recommendations for research and management (2006, methodology): “A quantitative relationship between flux and a benthic community descriptor is developed and then used to predict the influence different levels of bivalve culture on benthic community structure (Henderson et al., 2001).”
The effects of aquaculture on bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops sp.) ranging in Shark Bay, Western Australia (2005, background): “The described impacts of shellfish farming primarily involve competition with local bivalves, deposition of organic matter, altered benthic communities, and introduction of exotic species (Mirto et al., 2000; Naylor et al., 2000, 2001; Henderson et al., 2001; La Rosa et al., 2001).”
Effects of diet on sinking rates and erosion thresholds of mussel Perna canaliculus biodeposits (2004, background): “A recent review of the use of ecosystem models for managing environmental impacts of mussel culture concluded that the key areas of modelling uncertainty include the parameterisation of biodeposit settling velocities, quality and erosion characteristics (Henderson et al. 2001).”
Ecological value of coastal habitats for commercially and ecologically important species (2014, background): “The effects of different aquaculture systems depend on various factors, such as the local hydrographic conditions, the sedimentary habitat in which aquaculture occurs, the type of cultured organisms, the culture and production methods, and management practices (Henderson et al., 2001).”