Managing aquaculture waste using geo-textile bags and wetland plants: an aquaponics approach

摘要

Environmental discharge regulations for aquaculture have become much more stringent over recent years making waste management and disposal increasingly important, particularly where marine species are grown in land-based recirculation systems. Mechanical filters such as micro-screens, sand filters, and floating bead filters generate waste streams of concentrated solids that require further concentration to reduce the quantity of the discharge. For marine systems, it is also important that a significant percentage of the waste effluent stream be recycled back into the production system to conserve salt and reduce (or preferably eliminate) the impact of saltwater discharges. Recovering and re-using the saltwater will reduce operating costs. Cost savings will also be realized if the discharged solids can be used as a base for growing marketable products such as native coastal plants.