Journal article
Role of Shellfish Aquaculture in the Reduction of Eutrophication in an Urban Estuary
Silver Spring, Maryland 209101
Departamento de Ciencias e Engenharia do Ambiente, Faculdade Ciencias e Tecnologia2
212 Rogers Avenue, Milford, Connecticut 064603
1 International Boulevard, 10th Floor, Suite 1000, Mahwah, New Jersey 07495-00274
Durham, New Hampshire 038245
Department of Biological Sciences6
1455 NW Leary Way, Suite 400, Seattle Washington 981077
1121 Mooresfield Road, Wakefield, Rhode Island 028798
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Atlantic Ecology Division9
Suite 9-11, 888 Washington Blvd., Stamford, Connecticut 06904-215210
...and 0 moreLand-based management has reduced nutrient discharges; however, many coastal waterbodies remain impaired. Oyster “bioextraction” of nutrients and how oyster aquaculture might complement existing management measures in urban estuaries was examined in Long Island Sound, Connecticut. Eutrophication status, nutrient removal, and ecosystem service values were estimated using eutrophication, circulation, local- and ecosystem-scale models, and an avoided-costs valuation.
System-scale modeling estimated that 1.31% and 2.68% of incoming nutrients could be removed by current and expanded production, respectively. Up-scaled local-scale results were similar to system-scale results, suggesting that this up-scaling method could be useful in bodies of water without circulation models.
The value of removed nitrogen was estimated using alternative management costs (e.g., wastewater treatment) as representative, showing ecosystem service values of $8.5 and $470 million per year for current and maximum expanded production, respectively. These estimates are conservative; removal by clams in Connecticut, oysters and clams in New York, and denitrification are not included.
Optimistically, the calculation of oyster-associated removal from all leases in both states (5% of bottom area) plus denitrification losses showed increases to 10%–30% of annual inputs, which would be higher if clams were included. Results are specific to Long Island Sound, but the approach is transferable to other urban estuaries.
Language: | English |
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Publisher: | American Chemical Society |
Year: | 2018 |
Pages: | 173-183 |
ISSN: | 15205851 and 0013936x |
Types: | Journal article |
DOI: | 10.1021/acs.est.7b03970 |