Impact Of Aquaculture In Mauritius
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An insight on the impacts of aquaculture on phytoplankton density in Mauritius.
Mahalaksmi Devi Dasi Doodee (1611757)1
1) University of Mauritius, Faculty of Science, Department of Biosciences and Ocean Studies.
Abstract Phytoplankton are microscopic organisms of paramount significance as they are the foundation of the aquatic food web and are also known as the primary producers. However, the concentration of these primary producers may vary due to activities going on in the aquatic environment such as aquaculture. Around an aquaculture farm, the water quality of the former environment changes and thus it also brings a change in phytoplankton density. This study investigates phytoplankton variations at 5 different stations at an aquaculture site in Mauritius in relation to the water quality; nitrate, phosphate, silicate, temperature, pH, salinity and dissolved oxygen.
Keywords: phytoplankton, aquaculture, phosphate, nitrate, sedgewick, Mauritius, silicate Introduction
Aquaculture refers to the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of plants and animals in all types of water environments including ponds, rivers, lakes, and the ocean. (NOAA Fisheries). Aquaculture producers are farming all kinds of freshwater and marine species of fish, shellfish, and plants, where fish are fed and cared for to ensure optimum health and product quality. Aquaculture produces food fish, sport fish, bait fish, ornamental fish, crustaceans, mollusks, algae, sea vegetables, and fish eggs. (NOAA