Applying a combined geospatial and farm scale model to identify suitable locations for mussel farming

Mussel farming has increasingly come into focus as a potential mitigation measure for fish farms and eutrophication, in addition to being a food source. This study presents a GIS-based suitability analysis combined with a farm scale model to identify appropriate mussel farming sites. The sites are i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine pollution bulletin 2020-07, Vol.156, p.111254-111254, Article 111254
Main Authors: von Thenen, Miriam, Maar, Marie, Hansen, Henning Sten, Friedland, René, Schiele, Kerstin S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquaculture
Chlorophyll
Chlorophylls
Ecological modelling
Eutrophic environments
Eutrophic waters
Eutrophication
Farms
Fish
Fish culture
Fish farms
Food sources
Geographical information systems
Harvesting
Marine spatial planning
Mineral nutrients
Mitigation
Mollusks
Nutrient removal
Nutrients
Removal
Scale models
Shellfish farming
Site selection
Spatial suitability analysis
Transparency
Transparency (optical)
Water transparency
Water treatment
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Summary:Mussel farming has increasingly come into focus as a potential mitigation measure for fish farms and eutrophication, in addition to being a food source. This study presents a GIS-based suitability analysis combined with a farm scale model to identify appropriate mussel farming sites. The sites are investigated in terms of potential mussel harvest, nutrient removal, and effects on water transparency. The model is applied to the south-western Baltic Sea. The identified suitable area is about 5–8% of the case study extent. The model shows that elevated chlorophyll levels stimulate mussel growth and that upon mussel harvest, nutrients can be removed. A single mussel farm cannot compensate for all nutrients emitted by a fish farm, but it can increase water transparency up to at least 200 m from the farm. Potential nutrient removal and water transparency increases are essential criteria for site selection in eutrophic seas, such as the Baltic Sea. [Display omitted] •Mussel farming may be an internal measurement to mitigate eutrophication•To identify suitable sites, a combined GIS analysis and farm scale model is applied•The GIS analysis identifies spatial constraints in the south-western Baltic Sea•The farm scale model estimates nutrient removal and impact on water transparency•These parameters should be part of mussel farm site selection in eutrophic areas
ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111254