Transport of biodeposits and benthic footprint around an oyster farm, Damariscotta Estuary, Maine

Abstract

The benthic impact of aquaculture waste depends on the area and extent of waste accumulation on the sediment surface below and around the farm. In this study we investigated the effect of flow on biodeposit transport and initial deposition by calculating a rough aquaculture “footprint” around an oyster aquaculture farm in the Damariscotta River, ME. We also compared a site under the farm to a downstream “away” site calculated to be within the footprint of the farm. We found similar sediment biogeochemical fluxes, geochemical properties and macrofaunal communities at the site under the farm and the away site, as well as low organic enrichment at both sites, indicating that biodeposition in this environment likely does not have a major influence on the benthos. To predict accumulation of biodeposits, we measured sediment erodibility under a range of shear stresses and found slightly higher erosion rates at the farm than at the away site. A microalgal mat was observed at the sediment surface in many sediment cores. Partial failure of the microalgal mat was observed at high shear velocity, suggesting that the mat may fail and surface sediment erode at shear velocities comparable to or greater than those calculated fromin situ flow measurements. However, this study took place during neap tide, and it is likely that peak bottom velocities during spring tides are high enough to periodically “clear” under-farm sediment of recent deposits.

Effect of tidal resuspension with oyster biodeposits on nutrient and oxygen dynamics

“…Although the resuspension and export of biodeposits from aquaculture footprints has an important effect on the net balance of nutrients and oxygen All tanks received a daily addition of oyster biodeposits (Gadeken et al 2021), this study is the first to examine these processes under differential bottom shear stress regimes. As expected, biodeposits added to the low shear stress tanks (NR) remained on the bottom, while biodeposits in the high shear stress tanks (R) were resuspended, adding POM to the water column and inducing nitrification.…”