As emerging pollutants, the occurrence and risks of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in mariculture farms should be concerned; however, information is limited. Beibu Gulf is one of the essential ...mariculture zones in China. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of OPEs in mariculture farms of the Beibu Gulf, their phase distribution and bioaccumulation among sediment, organisms (shrimp, crab, and oyster), water, and feed. Human exposure to OPEs through seafood consumption was also assessed. The total concentrations of the 11 target OPEs (∑11OPEs) in the water samples ranged 32.9–227 ng L−1. It was significantly higher in water from the culture ponds (mean 122 ng L−1) than in water from the estuaries and nearshore areas (mean 51.1 ng L−1) (nonparametric test, p < 0.05). ∑11OPEs in the feeds averaged 46.0 (range 21.7–84.5) ng g−1 dw, which is similar to the level in the organism samples (mean 55.5, range 21.3–138 ng g−1 dw) and 4.4 times higher than that in the sediment (mean 10.9, range 35–22.1 ng g−1 dw). The ∑11OPEs released from the feeds to the culture ponds was estimated to be 49 μg m−2 per three-month period. In the aquaculture ponds, the sediment-water distribution coefficient (log KOC), and the bioaccumulation factors from the water (log BWAFs) or the feed (log BFAFs) to the organisms, depend linearly on the hydrophobicity (log KOW) of OPEs. The log BWAFs and log BFAFs increased with increasing log KOW within the log KOW range of 1–7. The human exposure to OPEs through consumption of shrimp, crab, and oysters from the mariculture farms does not pose a health risk at present.
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•OPEs were widely present in mariculture farms of the Beibu Gulf, China.•TCIPP and TCEP were the most abundant OPEs in feed, water, sediment, and seafood.•Feed is a major source of OPEs in the mariculture farms.•Calculated logKoc and logBWAF of OPEs significantly correlated with their log KOW.•Consumption of the farms’ seafood may not pose OPE related health risk to humans.
Organophosphate esters (OPEs) occurred widely in mariculture farms from Beibu Gulf, South China, and commercial feed is an important source of OPEs in the aquaculture.
Carbon offsetting—receiving credit for reducing, avoiding, or sequestering carbon—has become part of the portfolio of solutions to mitigate carbon emissions, and thus climate change, through policy ...and voluntary markets, primarily by land-based re- or afforestation and preservation 1, 2. However, land is limiting, creating interest in a rapidly growing aquatic farming sector of seaweed aquaculture 3–5. Synthesizing data from scientific literature, we assess the extent and cost of scaling seaweed aquaculture to provide sufficient CO2eq sequestration for several climate change mitigation scenarios, with a focus on the food sector—a major source of greenhouse gases 6. Given known ecological constraints (nutrients and temperature), we found a substantial suitable area (ca. 48 million km2) for seaweed farming, which is largely unfarmed. Within its own industry, seaweed could create a carbon-neutral aquaculture sector with just 14% (mean = 25%) of current seaweed production (0.001% of suitable area). At a much larger scale, we find seaweed culturing extremely unlikely to offset global agriculture, in part due to production growth and cost constraints. Yet offsetting agriculture appears more feasible at a regional level, especially areas with strong climate policy, such as California (0.065% of suitable area). Importantly, seaweed farming can provide other benefits to coastlines affected by eutrophic, hypoxic, and/or acidic conditions 7, 8, creating opportunities for seaweed farming to act as “charismatic carbon” that serves multiple purposes. Seaweed offsetting is not the sole solution to climate change, but it provides an invaluable new tool for a more sustainable future.
•ca. 48 million km2 of the oceans are suitable for seaweed aquaculture (SA)•Offsetting the aquaculture sector requires 14%–25% of current farmed seaweeds•Production scale and cost are too limiting to sequester global agricultural CO2eq•SA could help buffer eutrophic, hypoxic, or acidic waters in at least 77 countries
Carbon offsetting is a contentious but growing market for mitigating climate change. Aquatic farming of seaweeds is a growing sector that may provide a new form of offsetting in the oceans. Froehlich et al. find large-scale global mitigation through CO2eq sequestration unlikely but local to regional applications more feasible.
•This study profiles pollution and risks of EDCs in mariculture fish.•Multi-residues of EDCs were detected and quantified in mariculture fish.•Reproductive organ possessed higher EDCs concentration ...than in muscle and liver.•No potential risk to the human because the hazard index was < 1.
The presence and distribution of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the mariculture fish from Pulau Kukup, Johor of Malaysia have been studied along with the impact on human health. Six different species of mariculture fish were collected, due to their high consumption in the Asian region—especially Malaysia, to assess their levels of EDCs. The highest concentration of EDCs detected in the muscle was dexamethasone (2.37–15.84 ng/g) and (0.77–13.41 ng/g), in the liver was dexamethasone (<2.54–43.56 ng/g) and progesterone (2.23–9.78 ng/g), and in the reproductive organ are dexamethasone (<2.54–37.23 ng/g) and caffeine (0.21–18.92 ng/g). The human health risk assessment in the current study suggested that there is no potential risk to the consumer because the hazard index was below 1 (HI < 1). The present study provides information on the pollution profile of EDCs and the associated human health risk with EDCs in mariculture fish.
Plastic fishing gears have been widely used in marine fishing and mariculture, which could cause serious microplastics pollution but receive little attention. To further figure out the effect of ...fishery activities on microplastics, the occurrence and sources of microplastics contamination in the nearshore surface seawater of Weihai (a coastal fishery city of China) were studied. All the collected microplastics were sorted and counted based on their size, shape, and color. The distribution of microplastics pollution in this study areas was mapped. The results showed that the mean concentration of all sampling sites was 5.9±3.5 particles/m3; the concentration in the mariculture areas was 11.49 particles/m3, much higher than that in other areas without mariculture 1.57 particles/m3. Fragment and fiber accounted for 45.4% and 28.2% of the total microplastics, respectively. Most fibers and fragments were identified as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), mainly originated from the fishing nets/ropes. Polystyrene (PS) was also generally detected in the samples due to the foam floating balls used in the mariculture area. Our research strongly suggested that marine fishery activities, especially for mariculture, could be an underestimated sea-based microplastics source and more attentions should be given.
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•Marine fishery activities could have a significant impact on microplastics pollution.•Microplastics pollution in the mariculture area was higher than other areas.•Microplastics in this nearshore surface were mainly derived from fishing nets/ropes.•Plastics fishing gears could be an underestimated source for microplastic.
Efficient nitrate removal from recirculating mariculture system (RMS) water is of significance since high concentration of nitrate would cause chronic health effects on aquatic organisms and ...eutrophication. Solid-phase denitrification (SPD) is a safer and more sustainable approach than conventional heterotrophic denitrification by dosing liquid carbon sources. Thus, its application for treating nitrate-rich RMS water was investigated in this study. Poly 3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) was identified with the best nitrate removal among four kinds of carbon sources. PHBV-filled reactors started with mariculture, municipal and mixing sludges (at the ratio of 1:1) and fed with 200 mg L-1 nitrate-rich RMS water all achieved over 81% nitrate removals with a HRT of 4 days. The dissolved organic carbon concentrations of the reactors were in the range of 3–9 mg L-1. Arcobacter, Halomonas, and Psedomonas were dominant genera responsible for nitrate removal in different reactors. Metagenomic analyses indicate that both denitrification and assimilatory nitrate reduction (ANR) are the main contributors to nitrate removals. Metagenomic results illustrated nirB/D cooperated with nasA may perform ANR pathway, which transformed nitrate to ammonia for biosynthesis. These results indicate that SPD could be a safer alternative for treating nitrate-rich RMS water, and provide new insights into nitrogen metabolism pathways in SPD process.
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•SPD process using PHBV as carbon source can treat nitrate-rich recirculating mariculture water.•PHBV-SPD reactors seeded with different sludges achieved effective nitrate removal.•Arcobacter, Halomonas, and Psedomonas were the dominant genera in SPD reactors.•Denitrification and ANR pathways both contributed greatly to nitrogen metabolism.
Herein, we report the recent proliferation of the non-native serpulid worm Ficopomatus enigmaticus in parts of Galveston Bay, Texas. Reef-like aggregations were first recovered from a settlement ...plate and a submerged brick at the Kemah Boardwalk Marina on 4 May 2023. By 20 May, similar growths were reported to us by the Kemah Boardwalk Marina on floating docks, boat hulls, propellers, and rudders. On June 8, nearby marinas remained unaffected. We confirmed the worms’ species identities by noting their diagnostic characteristics.
•TFCWs treated mariculture wastewater, optimizing pH and reducing TDS, EC, SAL.•High removal of COD, TP, and SAs, with best results from zeolite and yellow flag.•Oxygenation and microbial degradation ...addressed antibiotic adsorption challenges.•Enhanced rhizosphere supported antibiotic-degrading/salt-tolerant bacteria growth.•Efficient SAs biodegradation via selective bacterial enrichment in TFCWs.
Antibiotic residues in aquaculture environment pose persistent threats to ecology and human health, exacerbated by salt-alkali mariculture wastewater. Yet, little is known about antibiotic removal in tidal flow constructed wetlands (TFCWs) under salinity stress, especially considering TFCW constitution, configuration, and influent water characteristics. Here, the removal performance and mechanism of different TFCWs for sulfonamide antibiotics (SAs: sulfadiazine, sulfamethazine, sulfamonomethoxine, and sulfamethoxazole) and trimethoprim (TMP) from mariculture wastewater (with low, medium, and high salinity) were evaluated alongside comparisons of environmental factors and microbial responses. Results showed substantial reduction in alkalinity (from 8.25–8.26 to 7.65–8.18), salinity (from 3.67–11.30 ppt to 3.20–10.79 ppt), and SAs concentrations (from 7.79–15.46 mg/L to 0.25–10.00 mg/L) for mariculture wastewater using TFCWs. Zeolite and yellow flag configurations exhibited superior performance in SAs removal from mariculture wastewater. Furthermore, the salt-alkali neutralization and oxygen transport capabilities of zeolite, along with the salt-alkali tolerance and biofilm formation characteristics of yellow flag, promoted the development of a biofilm in the rhizosphere dominated by oxidative stress tolerance and facultative anaerobic traits, thereby improving the TFCW microenvironment. Consequently, aerobic (Sulfuritalea and Enterobacter) and salt-tolerant (Pseudomonas) functional bacteria involved in antibiotic degradation were selectively enriched in the zeolite- and yellow flag-TFCWs, contributing to the effective biodegradation of SAs (achieving removal efficiency of 92–97 %). Besides, the high salt-alkali levels of mariculture wastewater and the strong oxygen-enriched capacity of the TFCWs not only enhanced the aerobic oxidation reaction of SAs, but also bidirectionally inhibited the substrate adsorption and anaerobic reduction process of TMP. These findings address a critical gap by investigating the efficacy of TFCWs in removing antibiotics from mariculture wastewater under various salinity conditions, providing essential insights for optimizing wetland design and improving wastewater management in mariculture environments.
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Microplastics (MPs) pollution in the marine environment has attracted considerable global attention. However, the colonization of microorganisms on mariculture-derived MPs and their effects on ...mariculture remain poorly understood. In this study, the MPs (fishing nets, foams and floats) and a natural substrate, within size ranges (1–4 mm), were then incubated for 21 days in Sungo Bay (China), and the composition and diversity of bacterial communities attached on all substrates were investigated. Results showed that bacterial communities on MPs mainly originated from their surrounding seawater and sediment, with an average contribution on total MPs adherent population of 47.91% and 37.33%, respectively. Principle coordinate analysis showed that community similarity between MPs and surrounding seawater decreased with exposure time. In addition, lower average bacterial community diversity and higher relative abundances of bacteria from the genera Vibrio, Pseudoalteromonas and Alteromonas on MPs than those in their surrounding seawater and sediments indicated that MPs might enrich potential pathogens and bacteria related with carbohydrate metabolism. They are responsible for the significant differences in KEGG Orthology pathways (infectious disease and carbohydrate metabolism) between MPs and seawater. The KO pathway (Infectious Diseases) associated with MPs was also significantly higher than those with feathers in the nearshore area. MPs might be vectors for enrichment of potentially pathogenic Vibrio, and enhance the ecological risk of MPs to mariculture industry.
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•MPs promote the adhesion of resident bacterial communities in seawater and sediments.•MPs are prone to enrich bacteria belong to Vibrio, Pseudoalteromonas and Alteromonas.•Organic matter plays an important role in formation of bacterial communities on MPs.•Enrichment of potential pathogens on MPs implies higher infection risk to mariculture.
Lower bacterial community diversity and higher relative abundances of bacteria from the genera Vibrio, Pseudoalteromonas and Alteromonas on MPs than those in surrounding seawater and sediments indicated the selectively enrichment of potential pathogens and bacteria related with carbohydrate metabolism on MPs.
Aquaculture contributes approximately half of all global aquatic food production and will be critical in addressing future seafood demand, including the United States (U.S.). Many states, ...territories, and countries are developing and updating aquaculture specific policy in an effort to plan for, and better manage the expansion of aquaculture in their territorial waters. The U.S. has considerable potential to sustainably expand aquaculture production, which has been a focus in both federal and state policy. State aquaculture plans have been used for over 40 years to help plan and coordinate aquaculture development, with a growing emphasis on sustainability. Here, we located and evaluated a set of coastal state aquaculture plans released in the last 25 years (N = 7) in an effort to provide resources to states and territories interested in this activity. We synthesized information from each plan to understand the support, motivation, writing process and entities involved, taxa and environments under consideration, key structural elements, and the types of recommendations provided. We found that coastal state aquaculture plans are often government or industry initiatives developed in partnership with other groups, including academia, government agencies, and tribal actors, as well as supported formally by executive or legislative branches. Plans were diverse but tended to described the vision for the future, provide recommendations, identify and incorporate cross-cutting concepts into the plans (e.g., best management practices and marine spatial plans), and highlight the need for the plan to be updated regularly. As states aim to expand aquaculture, understanding the structure and function of the tools used by states to inform policy formation will be important to help make future development plans more effective and efficient.
•For >40 years, state aquaculture plans in the US have shaped policy & development.•We assess marine plans released in the last 25 years and describe common elements.•We summarize support, contributors, taxa, structural elements, and recommendations.•Created in partnership and supported by government, plans described a future vision.•Plans provide recommendations, often include BMPs, and advise regular updates.
Stony corals are ecologically and economically important marine organisms. Coral aquaculture is essential to provide live coral materials for the marine ornamental trade, reef restoration programs, ...and environmental education. This study sought to establish coral farms in Taiwan. To culture corals, we adopted an abandoned abalone farming pond built along the northeastern coast of Taiwan, and investigated whether it is possible to propagate corals in this artificial environment. Stainless steel underwater tables were anchored to the pond floor, and fragments of Acropora tumida, Pocillopora damicornis, Stylophora pistillata, Favites pentagona, and Porites lobata were cultured on the tables for one year. Environmental factors in the pond were also monitored. The mean surface temperature was 23.07 °C, ranging from >30 °C in summer to 18 °C in winter. The mean salinity and pH were about 35 ppt and 8.14, respectively. Survivorship of these five species after one year ranged from 100% to 67%, with a 1.37–1.51-fold increase in weight and a 3.22–3.38-fold increase in area, demonstrating that although environmental factors fluctuate depending on the season and weather, long-term and stable asexual propagation of corals is feasible in the pond. For further optimization of culture conditions, the effects of initial fragment size for culture on subsequent survival and growth were investigated. Fragments of 3 sizes (1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 cm) were prepared from parental colonies of A. tumida, P. damicornis, and S. pistillata and cultured for 6 months by hanging them under the table. There were no significant differences in survivorship among these sizes. Differences were observed in biomass (weight) increase. In A. tumida, 3-cm fragments showed significantly more weight gain than other lengths, while 1.5-cm fragments showed a significant weight increase in P. damicornis. In S. pistillata, no significant difference in weight increase was observed among size groups, suggesting the necessity to optimize the initial fragment size for culture for each species before mass culture. Histological analysis showed that mature gametes were formed in some cultured corals, suggesting that sexual propagation may also be possible in the future. The established coral farm, which is culturing >4000 coral fragments now, will be able to support not only basic and applied coral research, but also sustainable reef development and marine ornamental trade.
•There are many ponds built for abalone farming along Taiwan's north coast.•A coral farm was established using one of the abandoned ponds.•Five coral species were cultured for >1 year with high survivorship and growth.•The established farm will promote coral studies and conservation.
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