Coastal Environmental Extension

Aquaculture and Sportfish Water Quality Management

Water quality management of aquaculture and sport-fish ponds has many aspects that should be considered. Some water quality issues result from watershed conditions and the nature of soils in which ponds are constructed. Others are related to culture species, culture methodology, and weather conditions. Some of the factors that are important include water source, watershed size and quality, seepage, overflow, runoff, evaporation and rainfall, air and water temperature, thermal stratification, ionic composition of water, salinity, total alkalinity, suspended solids, turbidity, color, pH, phytoplankton abundance, stocking, fertilization, and feeding rates, and dissolved oxygen.

• Roy, L. A., A. D. Davis, P. I. Saoud, C. A. Boyd, H. J. Pine, and C. E. Boyd. 2010. Shrimp Culture in Inland Low Salinity Water. Reviews in Aquaculture: 2, 191-208.
• Boyd, C. A., P. L. Chaney, C. E. Boyd, and D. B. Rouse. 2009. Distribution of Ground Water Suitable for Use in Saline-Water Aquaculture in Central and West Central Alabama. Journal of Applied Aquaculture: 21 (4) 228 -240.
• Boyd, C. E., H. Pine, C. A. Boyd, and R. Hulcher.  2008.  Excess runoff contribution to daily discharge frequency of channel catfish farms in Alabama.  Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 39 (4) 490-499.
• Boyd, C. A., P. Penseng, and C. E. Boyd.  2008.  New Nitrogen Fertilization Recommendations for Bluegill Ponds in Southeastern United States.  North American Journal of Aquaculture 70:308-313.
• Boyd, C. A., C. E. Boyd, and D. B. Rouse.  2007.  Potassium adsorption by bottom soils in ponds for inland culture of marine shrimp in Alabama.  Journal
  of the World Aquaculture Society 38 (1) 85-91.
• Boyd, C. A., C. E. Boyd, and D. B. Rouse.  2007.  Potassium budget for inland, saline water shrimp ponds in Alabama.  Aquacultural Engineering 36 (1) 45-50.
• Boyd, C. A., C. E. Boyd, A. A. McNevin, and D. B. Rouse.  2006.  Salt discharge from an inland farm for marine shrimp in Alabama.  Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 37 (4) 345-355.
• Strickland, B.  Managing Mississippi Farm Ponds and Small Lakes.  Mississippi State University Extension Service Publication 1428.

Websites of Interest

http://srac.tamu.edu/
http://msucares.com/wildfish/index.html

For more information, contact: Dr. Chris Boyd