PREP Reports & Publications

Abstract

There is growing literature on bioextraction approaches to managing nutrients in coastal waters, and it includes studies using a variety of species. Bivalve mollusks and macroalgae have received the most attention for several reasons, but perhaps foremost because of their aquaculture potential. A December 2009 workshop at the University of Connecticut, which included speakers from several countries, indicated overall that although bioextraction approaches hold substantial potential there are still many unanswered questions. The present review takes a “what we know/what we need to know” perspective, and focuses on aquaculture. For some taxa (e.g., eastern oyster), wild populations occur in New Hampshire which provide substantial nutrient bioextraction. The associated processes that result in nutrient removal from the ecosystem, however, are generally more complicated and much more difficult to unambiguously quantify except when actual harvest data are available. Therefore, the present review focuses on aquaculture, and it is restricted to those taxa (plants and animals) that occur in New Hampshire. It should be noted that the present project is associated with a recently completed project (funded by the Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership [PREP]) consisting of a field experiment designed to provide empirical data on nutrient uptake by oysters. The final report for this project represents the starting point for future research that will more completely characterize the bioextraction potential for oysters in New Hampshire (see discussion of Grizzle and Ward 2011 below).

Department

Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership

Publication Date

8-31-2011

Publisher

New Hampshire Sea Grant

Document Type

Report

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