BIOREMEDIATION OF RECIRCULATING SYSTEMS EFFLUENTS AS A METHOD TO OBTAIN HIGH-QUALITY AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS

摘要

Aquaculture has evolved as the fastest growing food-producing sector and developed as an important component in food security. Recirculating aquaculture systems offer the great advantage of controlled culture conditions to optimise productivity and, therewith, to obtain high quality market products. In order to manage an environmental friendly and productive recirculating system with minimum impact on fish physiology, the method of bioremediation proved efficient as long as the process is well integrated in a full treatment configuration. The main goal of the present paper consists of quantification of the retained nutrients in the vegetable biomass and, indirectly, of the bioremediation efficiency in terms of water quality control and reduction of the volume of the discharged effluent. Experiments were conducted in an experimental scale recirculating system where were integrated aquatic plants (Lemna minor) and superior plants (Lactuca sativa). Integration of different plant species in intensive aquaculture is a first step in modelling ecological recirculating systems of which the final goal is to diminish nutrients volume from the effluent and to increase the profitability of classical recirculating system (RAS) through secondary crop production.