Pearl aquaculture - Profitable environmental remediation?

S Gifford; R H Dunstan; Wayne A O'Connor; Timothy K Roberts; R Toia

doi:10.1016/S0048-9697(03)00437-6

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Pearl aquaculture - Profitable environmental remediation?

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Pearl aquaculture - Profitable environmental remediation?

S Gifford, R H Dunstan, Wayne A O'Connor, Timothy K Roberts and R Toia

Science of the Total Environment, Vol.319(1-3), pp.27-37

2004

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-9697(03)00437-6

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Abstract

bioremediation

pollutant cycling

pinctada

heavy metals

water quality

hydrocarbons

bioaccumulation

eutrophication

Bivalve molluscs are filter feeders, with pearl oysters able to filter water at rates up to 25 lh-1g-1 of dry wt. tissue. Since this process leads to rapid bioaccumulation of recalcitrant pollutants such as heavy metals, organochlorine pesticides and hydrocarbons from impacted sites, it has prompted the widespread use of molluscs as biomonitors to quantify levels of marine pollution. This paper proposes pearl oyster deployment as a novel bioremediation technology for impacted sites to remove toxic contaminants, reduce nutrient loads and lower concentrations of microbial pathogens. Estimates extrapolated from the literature suggest that a modest pearl oyster farm of 100 t oyster material per year could remove 300 kg heavy metals plus 24 kg of organic contaminants via deposition into the tissue and shell. Furthermore, it was estimated that up to 19 kg of nitrogen may be removed from the coastal ecosystem per tonne of pearl oyster harvested. Pearl oysters are also likely to filter substantial amounts of sewage associated microbial pathogens from the water column. Method of cultivation and site selection are the key to minimising negative environmental impacts of bivalve cultivation. Deployment of oysters at sites with high nutrient and contaminant loadings would be advantageous, as these compounds would be removed from the ecosystem whilst generating a value-added product. Future potential may exist for harvesting bio-concentrated elements for commercial production. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Details

Title: Pearl aquaculture - Profitable environmental remediation?
Authors: S Gifford (Author) - University of Newcastle
R H Dunstan (Author) - University of Newcastle
Wayne A O'Connor (Author) - Port Stephens Fisheries Centre
Timothy K Roberts (Author) - University of Newcastle
R Toia (Author) - University of Newcastle
Publication details: Science of the Total Environment, Vol.319(1-3), pp.27-37
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date published: 2004
DOI: 10.1016/S0048-9697(03)00437-6
ISSN: 0048-9697
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; GeneCology Research Centre - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450323202621
Output Type: Journal article

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