Title: Observations on selected characteristics of water and sediment at the open sea cage culture site of Asian seabass Lates calcarifer (Bloch) off Cochin, south-west coast of India
Abstract: Study was undertaken to assess the impact of open sea cage culture of Asian seabass Lates calcarifer on selected parameters
of water as well as sediment at Munambam off Cochin, Kerala coast from November 2008 to March 2009. Periodic observations
were made on temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, nutrients (NO3, PO4, SiO3), nitrite, ammonia, BOD, total suspended
solids, chlorophyll a, gross and net primary productivity as well as bacterial load of the surface and near bottom water from
the cage site (N 10o 08' 162''; E 76o 08' 901'') and also from a reference site (N 10o 07' 189''; E 76o 09' 210'') during
pre- as well as post-stocking periods. Sediment samples were collected simultaneously from both the sites and analysed for
texture, pH, organic carbon and bacterial load. A significant reduction (p<0.05) in silicate and chlorophyll a was perceived in
surface water at the cage site, during the culture period as compared to pre-stocking period. No significant variations were
noticed in any of the other parameters studied. The sand, silt, clay and organic carbon content in sediment at cage site differed
significantly (p<0.05) from that of the reference site. There was no significant difference in the mean values of total heterotrophic
bacterial count as well as presumptive Vibrio count of the water and sediment, either between the cage site and reference site
or between the pre- and post-stocking samplings. No adverse effect as influenced by cage culture of fish was observed on any
of the environmental parameters studied during the period of investigation.
Publication Year: 2010
Publication Date: 2010-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 8
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