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Monitoring of Environmental Impacts of Marine Aquaculture

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Aquaculture in the Ecosystem

Marine aquaculture is regulated and monitored through international and national legislation that varies significantly between countries and regions around the world. Research is still needed to improve the monitoring programmes, in particular those related to the ecosystem approach at larger scales. Most monitoring programmes include examination of the benthic environment and some also of water quality, although impacts are difficult to detect due to rapid dilution. In the Mediterranean benthic monitoring may include use of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica, as this species is widespread and highly sensitive to aquaculture waste products. This chapter provides details of two monitoring programmes: (1) salmon farming in Norway and (2) sea bream/sea bass and tuna farming in Malta.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, Odense M 5230, Denmark

    Marianne Holmer

  2. Institute of Marine Research, 1870 Nordnes, 5817, Bergen, Norway

    Pia Kupka Hansen

  3. Marine Ecology Laboratory, Biology Department, University of Crete, 2208, Heraklion, 714 09, Crete, Greece

    Ioannis Karakassis

  4. Department of Biology, University of Malta, Msida, Malta

    Joseph A. Borg & Patrick J. Schembri

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  1. Marianne Holmer
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  2. Pia Kupka Hansen
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  3. Ioannis Karakassis
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  4. Joseph A. Borg
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  5. Patrick J. Schembri
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark

    Marianne Holmer

  2. Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban, Argyll, PA37 1QA, Scotland

    Kenny Black

  3. Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats (CSIC-UIB), Miquel Marquès 21, 07190, Esporles (Illes Balears), Spain

    Carlos M. Duarte  & Nuria Marbà  & 

  4. Marine Ecology Laboratory Biology Department, University of Crete, 2208, Heraklion, 714 09, Crete, Greece

    Ioannis Karakassis

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Holmer, M., Hansen, P.K., Karakassis, I., Borg, J.A., Schembri, P.J. (2008). Monitoring of Environmental Impacts of Marine Aquaculture. In: Holmer, M., Black, K., Duarte, C.M., Marbà, N., Karakassis, I. (eds) Aquaculture in the Ecosystem. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6810-2_2

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