Comparative analysis of modeled nitrogen removal by shellfish farms

Abstract

The use of shellfish aquaculture for nutrient removal and reduction of coastal eutrophication has been proposed. Published literature has indicated that nitrogen contained in harvested shellfish can be accurately estimated from shell length:nitrogen content ratios. The range of nitrogen that could be removed by a typical farm in a specific estuarine or coastal setting is also of interest to regulators and planners. Farm Aquaculture Resource Management (FARM) model outputs of nitrogen removal at the shellfish farm scale have been summarized here, from 14 locations in 9 countries across 4 continents. Modeled nitrogen removal ranged from 105 lbs acre(-1) year(-1) (12 g m(-2) year(-1)) to 1356 lbs acre(-1) year(-1) (152 g m(-2) year(-1)). Mean nitrogen removal was 520 lbs acre(-1) year(-1) (58 g m(-2) year(-1)). These model results are site-specific in nature, but compare favorably to reported nitrogen removal effectiveness of agricultural best management practices and stormwater control measures.

Magnitude, spatial scale and optimization of ecosystem services from a nutrient extraction mussel farm in the eutrophic Skive Fjord, Denmark

“…This estimate is higher than the removal of 0.1 to 0.7 t ha −1 yr −1 estimated by the FARM-model for long-line cultures of Mytilus spp. at 3 other European sites (Rose et al 2015) and is also higher than the removal of 1.1 t ha −1 yr −1 estimated in a field study on the Swedish west coast (Lindahl et al 2005).…”

Coastal wetland loss, consequences, and challenges for restoration

“…Some new concepts, such as "building with nature" (De Vriend et al 2015), "living shore lines" (Rose et al 2014), or "blue forest" (Norwegian Blue Forest Network 2015), have also been proposed and implemented in different parts of the world to support practices for coastal wetland restoration.…”

“…An example of "living shorelines" is to use shellfish aquaculture as a management strategy for nitrogen reduction and bank protection (Rose et al 2014), with removal rate at 100-1300 g N m −2 year −1 . Now the technique has been widely used across the US coastal states and by several countries.…”

Spatially heterogeneous trends in nearshore and offshore chlorophyll a concentrations in lakes Michigan and Huron (1998–2013)

“…Observed shifts in productive areas may reflect responses not only in the Great Lakes, but also other systems experiencing shifts in nutrient loading from either nutrient abatement or increases in densities of filter feeding organisms. In some systems, resulting reduced nutrient loading has been coupled with aquaculture-related increases in native bivalve production (Ferreira, et al 2009;Gren, et al 2009;Peterson, et al 2016;Rose, et al 2015). In some systems, resulting reduced nutrient loading has been coupled with aquaculture-related increases in native bivalve production (Ferreira, et al 2009;Gren, et al 2009;Peterson, et al 2016;Rose, et al 2015).…”