Release rates and biological availability of phosphorus released from sediments receiving aquaculture wastes

Abstract

Aquaculture is an increasingly significant user of freshwater resources in Scotland. In 1989, the total fish biomass produced in Scottish freshwater amounted to 7000 t. 50% of this total was reared in floating cage systems situated in lochs (lakes). Both solid (mainly in the form of uneaten feeds and faecal matter) and dissolved byproducts of the production cycle enter the limnetic environment untreated. Much solid waste material accumulates directly on the sediments beneath the cage systems. This leads to a localised enrichment in nutrient elements of the sedimentary environment. The experiments served to quantify rates of total phosphorus (TP) and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) release from undercage and control sites, and to relate such releases to the biological availability of the released P. Results indicate significantly higher levels of NH4C1-extractable P in sediments affected by waste deposition from fish cages. TP and DRP release, and greater growth of Chla are obtained from undercage cores compared with control sites. No link between extractable-P content of sediments, or release rate and Chla production was established.