Larval fish in the vicinity of aquaculture intakes

Abstract

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has recently proposed that all facilities pumping water from Texas estuaries be fitted with 0.5 mm screening to prevent larval fish mortality at these facilities. Data on larval fish distributions in Texas estuaries is quite limited (Holt et al. 1990). This report presents the results of a pilot study to examine the impact on larval fishes and shrimps of pumping water into mariculture facilities at three sites on the central and southern Texas Coast. The primary objective of this study was to determine the species composition, density and size structure of ichthyoplankton populations in the vicinity of the intake structures of the three mariculture facilities during their spring and fall pumping seasons. A secondary objective was to determine what organisms were actually being pumped through the system.