Environmental considerations in aquaculture

This manual, prepared to assist A.I.D. staff with project development, provides a general background on the environmental aspects of aquaculture. After a general discussion of aquaculture practices, including the use of feeds and chemicals, fertilization, production cycles, and the fishes used, environmental questions are discussed, i.e., aquaculture"s effects on hydrology, soils, land use patterns, water quality, plant and animal habitats, and air quality. Next, economic and sociocultural considerations are presented with special emphasis on public health. Seperate discussions outline A.I.D."s procedural requirements for project approval and detail the preparation of AID-mandated environmental impact statements. The authors give particular emphasis to pond-culture fish habitat practices and see a beneficial role for aquaculture in LDC"s. They note that the land needed for pond culture is often ill-suited for other uses and that it is often possible to integrate aquaculture into extant water management systems. It is necessary, however, to be aware of aquaculture"s potential impact on water supplies, soils, and land use patterns and, if fish are imported, on their potential effect on indigenous varieties. Health issues are especially important and should receive the planner"s careful attention. A well managed project should, however, provide badly needed income and protein, and have few harmful effects. Appended are a glossary, a 56-item bibliography, a checklist of environmental effects, an article on brackishwater aquaculture, and a brief discussion of cage aquaculture.