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The use of mussels for mitigating the noxious effect of phytoplankton spring blooms on farmed fish

The use of mussels for mitigating the noxious effect of phytoplankton spring blooms on farmed fish
The use of mussels for mitigating the noxious effect of phytoplankton spring blooms on farmed fish
The possibility of using the natural biofiltration power of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis, 0.37 ± 0.08 g ind?1 dry weight) to dampen the potential detrimental effect of phytoplankton blooms on juvenile farmed sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) was tested in a fish farm during a 35-day mesocosm experiment. Mussel effective clearance rates averaged 41.15 ± 14.19 m3 h?1 and led to a 6.3–13.1-fold reduction of the phytoplankton abundance as well as comparable decreases in chlorophyll a and turbidity. This improvement in seawater quality significantly enhanced fish physiological performances: weight-based growth rates were significantly higher (2.87 ± 0.43% d?1) compared to control exposed to non-filtered (bulk) seawater (2.55 ± 0.44% d?1). The same observation holds for the Fulton condition index and the metabolic activity (RNA:DNA ratio). For fish reared in bulk seawater, diatoms embedded in gills (Rhizosolenia imbricata, Thalassiosira sp.) and mucus overproduction indicated a stress (i.e. mechanical damages) induced by phytoplankton exposure which, in turn, may have affected fish energy balance. The use of mussels as a satisfying mitigation tool reducing phytoplankton bloom impacts is discussed with regard to phytoplankton bloom magnitude and ashore marine fish farming in coastal ecosystems.
Harmful algal blooms, Mitigation, Mussel biofiltration, Fish farming, Sea bass
0144-8609
52-61
Delegrange, A.
32c9ff2d-6db7-4252-a7e2-1c07eb884a14
Vincent, D.
66bdad43-96d1-4c23-b801-ab04faece945
Duret, M.
e9f43140-067d-45d4-b7ea-68dd432798ea
Amara, R.
8adb54d2-c02e-4e34-b264-0bdc77c01ff7
Delegrange, A.
32c9ff2d-6db7-4252-a7e2-1c07eb884a14
Vincent, D.
66bdad43-96d1-4c23-b801-ab04faece945
Duret, M.
e9f43140-067d-45d4-b7ea-68dd432798ea
Amara, R.
8adb54d2-c02e-4e34-b264-0bdc77c01ff7

Delegrange, A., Vincent, D., Duret, M. and Amara, R. (2015) The use of mussels for mitigating the noxious effect of phytoplankton spring blooms on farmed fish. Aquacultural Engineering, 66, 52-61. (doi:10.1016/j.aquaeng.2015.03.001).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The possibility of using the natural biofiltration power of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis, 0.37 ± 0.08 g ind?1 dry weight) to dampen the potential detrimental effect of phytoplankton blooms on juvenile farmed sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) was tested in a fish farm during a 35-day mesocosm experiment. Mussel effective clearance rates averaged 41.15 ± 14.19 m3 h?1 and led to a 6.3–13.1-fold reduction of the phytoplankton abundance as well as comparable decreases in chlorophyll a and turbidity. This improvement in seawater quality significantly enhanced fish physiological performances: weight-based growth rates were significantly higher (2.87 ± 0.43% d?1) compared to control exposed to non-filtered (bulk) seawater (2.55 ± 0.44% d?1). The same observation holds for the Fulton condition index and the metabolic activity (RNA:DNA ratio). For fish reared in bulk seawater, diatoms embedded in gills (Rhizosolenia imbricata, Thalassiosira sp.) and mucus overproduction indicated a stress (i.e. mechanical damages) induced by phytoplankton exposure which, in turn, may have affected fish energy balance. The use of mussels as a satisfying mitigation tool reducing phytoplankton bloom impacts is discussed with regard to phytoplankton bloom magnitude and ashore marine fish farming in coastal ecosystems.

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More information

Published date: May 2015
Keywords: Harmful algal blooms, Mitigation, Mussel biofiltration, Fish farming, Sea bass
Organisations: Ocean and Earth Science

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 376033
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/376033
ISSN: 0144-8609
PURE UUID: 41b55327-9faa-484a-873f-816e50a7eaa6
ORCID for M. Duret: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-0922-4372

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 13 Apr 2015 12:44
Last modified: 27 Mar 2024 18:38

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Contributors

Author: A. Delegrange
Author: D. Vincent
Author: M. Duret ORCID iD
Author: R. Amara

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