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MEPS 277:253-261 (2004)
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Abstract
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Effects of wild fishes on waste exportation from a Mediterranean fish farm
Rubén Vita1,*, Arnaldo Marín1, Juan Antonio Madrid2, Blanca Jiménez-Brinquis1, Augusto Cesar1, Lázaro Marín-Guirao1
1Departamento de Ecología e Hidrología, and
2Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 3100 Murcia, Spain
*Email: rvita@um.es
ABSTRACT: This study investigated the role of wild fishes associated with marine farms as potential consumers of organic waste in the water column and sediment. Experiments were carried out at a fish farm in a semi-enclosed bay in the Mediterranean Sea
(SE Spain). Sediment traps collected organic waste from net-pens in the water column at different depths during June and July 2001 and benthic caging experiments were carried out on the sediment from October 2000 to January 2001. The experiment showed
that about 80% of the particulate organic matter leaving the rearing net-pens may be consumed before it settles on the sediment. Significant changes in the nutrient quality of the organic matter exported are also due to consumption by wild fishes. Wild
fishes thus play an important role in recycling the organic matter of the sediment, and regulate the benthic community structure. Our results indicate that the trophic role of wild fishes should be considered when evaluating the environmental impact of
fish farms.
KEY WORDS: Aquaculture · Wild fishes · Fish farm · Sea-cage · Organic waste · Mediterranean Sea
Full text in pdf format
Published in MEPS Vol.
277
(2004) on August 16
Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2004
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