Robustness of alternative benthic impact indicators: Quantification of spatial and temporal variability of alternative methods, and application at aquaculture sites across different farm and environmental conditions
PARR-2016-M-08
Description
Benthic effects associated with biochemical oxygen demanding (BOD) matter effluents at aquaculture sites are currently assessed by monitoring the oxic state of surficial sediment. The Aquaculture Activity Regulations (AAR) require measurements of sulfide concentrations around finfish aquaculture sites as a proxy for benthic biodiversity impacts. However, it has been widely recognized that there are some problems with current protocols used for monitoring the oxic state of sediments. Alternative methods for measuring sulfide and oxygen concentrations have been developed that may address some of the weakness of the methods traditionally used. This project will test these new methodologies and technologies across a range of aquaculture (shellfish and finfish) and seabed conditions (mud, sand and mixed) in Canada to determine the general applicability of these methods for reaching conclusions on sediment oxic state and related benthic impacts, and to measure the temporal and spatial variability in oxic state indicators between these different methods.
Findings
N/A
Publications
N/A
Multimedia
Program Name
Program for Aquaculture Regulatory Research (PARR)
Year(s)
2016 - 2019
Ecoregion(s)
All
Principal Investigator
Lindsay Brager
Aquatic Biologist, Bedford Institute of Oceanography
Lindsay.Brager@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
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