Effects of Fish Culture on Water Quality of an Integrated Mariculture Pond System
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Date
2002
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Western Indian Ocean J.
Abstract
Six mariculture ponds were flooded with seawater since 1996. During this time the
ponds were stocked with finfish (milkfish and rabbitfish), which were fed on locally produced
fish feed. Some water quality parameters such as temperature, salinity and oxygen saturation
were measured twice a day for three years (1998 – 2000), while nutrient concentrations were
measured weekly for one year. Both nutrient concentration and oxygen saturation levels have
shown a trend indicating eutrophication. Oxygen concentration changed from an average of
7.16 mg/l in October 1998 to 2.2 mg/l in March 2000 with a negative linear regression of 0.69
during the morning hours. From August 1998 to April 1999 dissolved inorganic ammonia
concentration increased by 9 mg-at N/l, from 8.91 to 18.02 with a positive linear regression of
0.79. During this period soluble reactive phosphorus increased by 3.55 mg-at P/l from 4.36 to
7.91 with a positive linear regression of 0.75. In this paper the rate of eutrophication and the
limit at which the ponds have to be dried/limed before restocking are discussed
Description
Keywords
Fish Culture on Water, Mariculture Pond
Citation
Mmochi, A.J., Dubi, A.M., Mamboya, F.A. and Mwandya, A.W., 2002. Effects of Fish Culture on Water Quality of an Integrated Mariculture Pond System.