Abstract
The feasibility of integrating seaweed cultivation with mussel culture in Bizerte lagoon (north Tunisia) was investigated during 1 year, in order to exploit mussel excretion nutrients as resource input and to reduce the risk of eutrophication. In parallel, to evaluate nutrients’ biofiltering efficiency and uptake rates of the agarophyte Gracilaria verrucosa, growth and nutrient removal from mussel culture water were investigated. In the laboratory, seaweed/mussel co-culture experiments were compared to mussel monoculture systems. The results showed that nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in monoculture were significantly higher than those in co-culture treatments. Algal growth rate, thallus nutrient contents, and mussel mortality were different between all treatments. The mussel/seaweed biomass ratio of 1:0.28 (treatment 1) was convenient for efficient nutrient uptake and best seaweed growth. Field cultivation trials showed that G. verrucosa grew well in bivalve culturing farm in Bizerte lagoon at a maximum growth rate of 4.45% day−1 attained in spring season. The mean nitrogen content in dry thalli cultured in co-culture with mussel in Bizerte lagoon was 4.19 ± 0.81%. Results indicate that G. verrucosa can efficiently absorb the nutrients from mussel in Bizerte lagoon and can be associated with local mussel farms, mitigating eutrophication, and eventually, increasing economic incomes of farmers.
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