Salmon farming above corraline gravels

Waste organic matter from fish farm cages reduces live maerl cover on the seabed. Maerl beds are the red algal corraline gravels. A study by Jason Hall-Spencer et al [mailto:jhall-spencer@plymouth.ac.uk] suggests relocation of fish farms to areas with stronger currents, or a fallowing rotation, will not protect this slow-growing habitat.

Source: Marine Ecology Progress Series Vol.326 (17th November): pages 1-9.
"Impact of fish farms on maerl beds in strongly tidal areas"
(c) Inter-Research 2006
http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v326/p1-9/
http://www.int-res.com/articles/feature/m326p001.pdf

www.int-res.com Open Access Feature Article