What is the potential environmental impact of shellfish farming?
Aquaculture producers are legitimate users of the aquatic resources, and take a very conscious, responsible approach towards environmental management. Since aquaculture operations rely on high quality aquatic resources, producers have a direct interest in promoting and maintaining the quality and integrity of the aquatic environment. Shellfish farming usually results in a net removal of nutrients from the water column, and is generally considered to cause minimal environmental damage. According to Shumway et al. (2003) shellfish feed at the base of the food chain – and as first-order consumers they are vegetarians. Filter-feeding bivalve molluscs are an essential link between the bottom-dwelling aquatic communities and phytoplankton production in the water column. Shellfish are highly efficient water filters that directly remove particulate material thus reducing turbidity and both directly and indirectly removing nitrogen and other nutrients. Via this process, these highly efficient w
