Biofouling impact on production and ecosystem functioning: a review for bivalve aquaculture

Abstract

Bivalve aquaculture is worldwide impacted by biofouling development. Immersed infrastructures and shells of the reared species create new substrate for a wide range of epibionts, mainly composed of suspension feeders. Biofouling development is generally considered as a plague for bivalve aquaculture, and its control results in additional costs that can represent up to 30% of total operational costs of the industry. Epibionts have not only consequences for the species they overgrow (i.e. basibiont), but they can also alter the ecological functioning of the exploited ecosystem. In this review, we point out that the assessment of the net effect of biofouling is more complex than expected, as it combines negative and positive effects on both the commercial production and the ecosystem. Furthermore, we emphasize that the removal of biofouling can be stressful and damaging for the reared species. Biofouling control should be carefully reconsidered, on the basis of a holistic approach considering: (i) the interactions between epibionts and their basibionts; (ii) its impact on the final product; and (iii) its contribution to the sustainability of the ecosystem.

Attraction and repulsion of mobile wild organisms to finfish and shellfish aquaculture: a review

“…; Forrest et al . ; McKindsey ; Lacoste & Gaertner‐Mazouni ). In summary, addition of physical structure in the water column allows for the development of substantial and diverse communities in the water column that have a structure similar to that of natural reefs.…”

Shellfish culture: a complex driver of planktonic communities

“…As underlined by numerous authors, the total grazing pressure exerted should not only take into account the reared species, but also the whole epibiont community (Woods et al . ; Lacoste & Gaertner‐Mazouni ; Lacoste et al . ).…”

“…Even if investigations of the grazing pressure generated by biofouling biomass on the planktonic compartment are relatively scarce, several authors have pointed out the necessity of considering biofouling grazing as significant (Lodeiros & Himmelman ; Pit & Southgate ; de Sá et al . ; Lacoste & Gaertner‐Mazouni ). As a consequence, to realistically qualify the grazing pressure generated by shellfish farming on the planktonic community, it appear essential to pursue the investigation of grazing activity of fouling organisms.…”

Forecasting the economic impacts of two biofouling invaders on aquaculture production of green-lipped mussels Perna canaliculus in New Zealand

“…Biofouling organisms (indigenous and non-indigenous) impose significant costs on shellfish aquaculture by affecting the survivorship, growth and market value of the product (Adams et al 2011, Forrest & Atalah 2017. In suspended culture systems, heavy growths reduce water flow and nutrient supply to stock and increase the weight and drag on growing systems (Giles & Pilditch 2006, Fitridge et al 2012, Lacoste & Gaertner-Mazouni 2015. The costs of controlling biofouling in shellfish aquaculture have been estimated at 15−20% of the total operating costs (Watson et al 2009, Adams et al 2011.…”