Study on Impacts of Sea Reclamation on Fish Community in Adjacent Waters: A Case in Caofeidian, North China

Abstract

Suo, A.; Cao, K.; Zhao, J., and Lin, Y., 2015. Study on impacts of sea reclamation on fish community in adjacent sea areas: a case in Caofeidian, North China.To reveal the impacts of sea reclamation on fish communities in adjacent areas, Caofeidian in north China was chosen as a case study in this paper. A total of 19 sample points were set in offshore areas reclaimed in 2004, 2008, and 2010, which represents the beginning, middle and ending phase of reclamation works. Species richness, density, biomass, and biodiversity index were analyzed to describe changes of adjacent fish community during the reclamation process. It is found that the fish density declined by 22.66% from 2004 to 2010 due to sea reclamation. The fish biomass decreased from 46.07 kg·m−2·h−1 in 2004 to 25.35 kg·m−2·h−1 in 2010, which was mainly caused by body miniaturization of dominated fish and increased density of other fish species. The sea reclamation also reduced the eggs and fries in adjacent areas. The density of fish eggs decreased from 5.42 ind·m−3·h−1 to 0.13 ind·m−3·h−1and the density of fries decreased from 2.29 ind·m−3·h−1to 0.19 ind·m−3·h−1. These changes of fish community were mainly due to the plenty of suspended sand diffused to adjacent waters. Besides, the impact of reclamation on fish community was bigger in autumn than in spring.