Assessment of benthic biological indicators for evaluating the environmental impact of tuna farming

The overall impact of tuna farming on soft‐bottom habitat was assessed at three tuna farms over a period of 3 years, using benthic macroinvertebrates as indicators. Polychaetes and amphipods served as better indicators of the impact of tuna farming compared with molluscs and decapods. Lower number and Shannon–Wiener diversity of polychaete and amphipod taxa were recorded over time at the impacted plots compared with the control plots, while the polychaete/amphipod index indicated that the Ecological Quality Status at the impacted plots changed from “Poor”/”Moderate” to “Good” during the study period. Results of the multivariate analyses indicated significantly higher dispersion of samples of the polychaete and amphipod assemblages over time at the impacted plots compared with the control plots, indicative of stressed assemblages. Differences in the macroinvertebrate assemblages between impacted and control plots were consistent across faunal groups except for molluscs, which showed no response. Results must be interpreted with caution due to the high spatiotemporal variation in the influence of tuna farming on the macroinvertebrate assemblages, which highlights the importance of including multiple impacted and reference areas, as well as replicate sampling times, in assessing the environmental impact of tuna farms.     

Metazoan parasites on gills of Southern Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) do not rapidly proliferate after transfer to sea cages

A relatively new and highly valuable aquaculture industry focuses on three species of bluefin tunas, which are captured from the wild and fattened for several months in sea cages. In teleost aquaculture, mortalities and extra production costs are very commonly associated with metazoan ectoparasites. In tuna, however, the production value lost due to diseases associated with ectoparasites is unknown. We collected epidemiological data on burdens of metazoans on the gills of farmed southern bluefin, Thunnus maccoyii, in a series of monthly samples of tuna from the time of stocking through to harvest (March to August, 2004; N = 210) in five sea cages on a farm off Port Lincoln, Australia. Three species were recorded; for one (a copepod, Pseudocycnus appendiculatus), there was a gradual, significant increase in both abundance (from a mean of 0.1 in March, to 3.83 in August) and prevalence (from 10% to 67.5%). For the other two species (a second copepod, Euryphorus brachypterus, and a polyopisthocotylean flatworm, Hexostoma thynni) there were no discernible trends in prevalences and abundances. These results contrast markedly with those of other intensively cultured species of finfishes, in which parasite epizootics are frequent. This finding may indicate that despite the stresses of captivity, tuna mount a robust immune response to ectoparasites; the relatively low stocking densities at which tuna are farmed may facilitate this. The fall in water temperature during farming (22 °C to 13 °C) may also reduce the reproductive rate of these ectoparasites.     

Diet of demersal fish species in relation to aquaculture development in Scottish sea lochs

The diets of demersal fish, principally haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), whiting (Merlangius merlangus) and several flatfish species, sampled from four Scottish sea lochs (Hourn, Kishorn, Duich and Nevis) which support aquaculture sites, were examined in order to determine whether the impact of aquaculture on benthic biodiversity would affect the diets of demersal fish. Loch Kishorn had the highest maximum planned aquaculture production, loch Nevis follows and lochs Hourn and Duich have the lowest planned production. Samples were collected from locations less than and more than 2000 m from fish farm cages. Fish close to the fish farm cages were on average of greater individual weight than those further away from fish farms. Haddock ate predominantly Malacostracan crustacea, Ophiurid echinoderms and Polychaete annelids; whiting ate predominantly Malacostracan crustacea and teleost fish and flatfish ate Malacostracan crustacea, Polychaete annelids and Ophiurid echinoderms. A small number of saithe sampled had eaten mainly fish farm pellets. Dietary variation in each species was analysed in relation to loch, proximity to aquaculture facilities and fish size. Diet of whiting varied with body size. Dietary differences were observed between the lochs and between sites close to and far from farms in two lochs although these differences cannot be specifically attributed to aquaculture development. Controlling for differences between individual lochs, proximity to aquaculture facilities did not consistently affect diet composition.     

Salmon farming and the environment

Abstract. The growth of the aquaculture industry and the general awareness of the environment have increased the concern of' the environmental impact from aquaculture.
As fish farms are open systems, all material that is not harvested as fish is released to the environment. The most important effluents are solid particles like feed and faeces, dissolved substances like nutrients and excretion products, and antibacterial agents.
The effect of these substances varies with their nature and quantity and with local conditions. Production and biomass of phytoplankton seem to be little influenced. The benthic community beneath and close to the cages is often altered. At poorly flushed sites the sea-bed may be anoxic and methane and hydrogensulphide are released from the sediments. Wild fauna, like fish, otters and birds are attracted to the farms.
The respiration and excretion of the fish directly influence water quality. Usually the oxygen tension is somewhat reduced in the net cages, while the concentration of ammonia is elevated in the net. Such conditions are assumed to influence fish growth and health.
Most of the antibiotic agents used in fish farming are persistent and may remain in high concentrations in the sediments up to one year after medication. The frequency of resistant bacteria in the sea-bed is normally increased, and there is a temporary drop in sediment metabolism after medication. Wild fish have been found to have high residues of antibiotic agents.
The organic loading of the sea-bed, the evolution of resistant bacteria and residues in the wild flsh are considered to be the most severe environmental impact of aquaculture. These are all associated with effluent of large particles, and thus mainly restricted to the site area.     

基于大型底栖动物的桑沟湾不同养殖区底栖生境健康评价

为了解桑沟湾养殖区大型底栖动物的动态变化以及底栖生境的健康状况，于2019年5-9月采集了中国北方典型养殖海湾桑沟湾不同养殖区（藻类、贝类和网箱养殖区）大型底栖动物样品，分析了不同养殖区大型底栖动物的种类、组成、数量分布、群落结构及生物多样性等群落特征，运用多样性指数、AMBI和M-AMBI指数法评价了不同养殖区底栖生境健康状况的时空变化。调查共鉴定出大型底栖动物56种，其中多毛类31种，甲壳类10种，软体动物9种，棘皮动物4种，其他类2种，大型底栖动物的优势种主要为多毛类，以污染耐受种为主；调查期间，贝类养殖区和网箱养殖区的群落多样性指数H''呈现下降趋势，表明贝类养殖活动和网箱养殖活动已经造成沉积物中有机物颗粒过度积累。ABC曲线显示，7月桑沟湾养殖区开始受到干扰，8月和9月受到中等程度的干扰。AMBI和M-AMBI指数评价显示桑沟湾养殖区域底栖生态系统处于轻度或中度干扰状态，底栖生境健康状况处于高等或者良好的状态。     

Linking coastal aquaculture of meagre Argyrosomus regius and Western Mediterranean coastal fisheries through escapes incidents

Escape incidents in coastal aquaculture lead to economic losses for farmers and may have indirect socio‐economic effects on local fisheries. In this study, the relationship of meagre, Argyrosomus regius (Asso), production in open‐sea cages and coastal small‐scale fisheries was analysed through captures of escapes, which are easily detected because this species is considered locally absent in native communities in Western Mediterranean regions. Scale reading showed that 100% of captured meagre were escapees. The existence of a direct relationship, in terms of biomass, between the development of meagre coastal aquaculture and the increase of captures of this species by local fisheries was demonstrated. The spatial distribution of meagre captures suggested that there is a local environmental and economic interaction between meagre aquaculture and fisheries through escapees. Monitoring the presence of locally absent species such as meagre within landings might help to assess the magnitude of escapes, the potential economic effects on local aquaculture and fishery industries, and the potential adverse ecological impacts on local ecosystems.     

九孔鲍育苗池附着基上底栖微藻群落及其多样性

2006年9月14至10月26日对福建省漳浦县下蔡九孔鲍(Haliotis diversicolor supertexta)育苗池进行定点采样。检测结果共鉴定底栖微藻24属62种,其中硅藻21属59种,绿藻、蓝藻和褐藻各1种。附着基上底栖微藻的优势种有12种,全部为硅藻,如盾卵形藻微小变种(Cocconeis scutellum var.parva)、小形舟形藻(Navicula parva)、咖啡双眉藻(Amphora coffeaeformis)、琴式菱形藻(Nitzschia panduriformis)等。优势种的优势度突出。常见种有25种,少见种有27种。优势种和常见种多是能够适应底栖环境的种类。附着基上底栖微藻种类及多样性指数育苗早期波动大,后期逐渐稳定,底栖微藻多样性指数平均为0.980～1.959,结果表明,底栖微藻群落结构的演变与鲍幼体摄食活动有很大的相关性。     

Can fish sampling protocol (CEN, 2005) be amended for Mediterranean lakes?

The CEN (2005) methodology for fish monitoring of mesotrophic to eutrophic Mediterranean lakes was evaluated. The contribution of gillnet (benthic and pelagic) and electrofishing catches on species richness was examined. Additionally, the contribution of benthic gillnet sampling effort on species richness and precision of catch‐per‐unit‐effort (CPUE) estimates, considering both number of specimens (ΝPUE) and biomass (BPUE), was assessed. Subsequently, the impact of reduction in sampling effort on the parameters mentioned above was estimated and the effort needed to acquire the desired precision level considering different NPUE values was modelled. The use of different sampling gears was found to contribute to species richness assessment, while sampling effort could be reduced in the deepest zones of the lakes. The resultant model can reliably guide assessment of the sampling effort required in the Mediterranean and central European lakes with high fish densities.     

Determination of physical behaviour of feed pellets in Mediterranean water

Settled uneaten feed causes the most intense impact under sea cages, and settling velocity of the feed pellets represents a key parameter for waste dispersion models. Even if some data about physical properties of feed pellets have been published in the framework of salmonid rearing, there is a complete lack of information related to the Mediterranean Sea, as regards typical values of temperature, salinity and feed composition for Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus aurata L.) and Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.). In this study we try to fill this lack, determining dimensions, water adsorption properties, floating times and settling velocities of a typical growing sequence of pellets for the species mentioned above, under defined laboratory conditions reproducing Mediterranean Sea water. The settling velocity increases with pellet size from 0.087, for the smallest pellet (3 mm), to 0.144 m s^?1, for the 5 mm pellet. The biggest extruded pellet (6 mm) falls slower (0.088 m s^?1). The floating time before pellet's fall is found to be a critical parameter in determining settling velocity. The latter depends on pellet's size, water temperature and salinity. The examined pellets reach a 42% of weight increase after 10 min of immersion, while no appreciable dimension change is observed. Our results are in part different from previous ones and could play a role in evaluating and modelling Mediterranean aquaculture environmental impact.     

Use of macrobenthic infaunal communities in the monitoring and control of the impact of marine cage fish farming

Benthic macrofaunal community changes are used extensively to monitor the impact of polluting discharges to the marine environment. Regulatory and pollution control authorities have recognized the particular value of the well studied and reported responses of infaunal communities to organic pollution including wastes from aquaculture. Benthic systems are embraced in both the consent (licence) to discharge and monitoring procedures for marine cage fish farms in the Clyde River Purification Board's (CRPB) area. The relevant protocols of the CRPB are described and data are presented from impact studies throughout west central Scotland, focussing on the sedimentary environment (macrobenthos, organic carbon and redox: Eh). Macrobenthic infaunal responses, though not fully understood, were considered to provide the best measure to date of determining the impacts of organic wastes from cage fish farming and a possible way forward in developing benthic Environmental Quality Standards (EQSs) for aquaculture. Some patterns in physico-chemical data were identified, but frequently, the relationship both with benthic infaunal data and each other were inconsistent. Grossly impacted faunal communities varied little between sites and could readily be described by the simple community determinands of abundance (A), species richness (S) and Shannon Weiner diversity index (H). Moderate to lightly impacted zones were less easily defined but detailed faunal studies have allowed the selection of some widely distributed marker species. However, site-specific observations emphasized the site individuality and difficulties of setting EQSs across the industry. Using the principles of enhanced species populations and by identifying marker species, measurable impacts were found to extend further than previously reported. In naturally enriched systems, like the Firth of Clyde and some sea lochs, difficulty in separating slight effects from background was experienced. Continued monitoring and impact assessment, as well as building a better biological data base, may help develop appropriate benthic EQSs relating to aquaculture.     

洋山深水港海域大型底栖动物初步研究

2003~2005年每年2月、5月和8月按《海洋监测规范》中大型底栖动物调查方法,分别对洋山深水港一期工程施工海域(30°30′~30°54′N、121°45′~122°30′E)20个取样点进行了大型底栖动物调查。根据调查结果,分析与讨论该海域底栖动物的种类组成、生物量、栖息密度和群落多样性的分布与变化。监测结果显示:一期工程施工期,底栖动物的种类数逐年减少,2003~2005年种类数分别为21种、17种和16种;底栖动物栖息密度逐年下降,2003年(31.10 ind/m2)>2004年(12.50 ind/m2)>2005年(11.00 ind/m2);底栖动物平均总生物量总体表现为逐年降低,2003年(4.26 g/m2)>2005年(2.18 g/m2)>2004年(0.62 g/m2),2004年生物量下降尤为显著,2005年生物量略有回升;生物多样性指数也逐年降低,2003~2005年分别为0.81、0.36和0.16。三年监测结果表明,洋山深水港一期工程海域施工期底栖动物种类数、总生物量、栖息密度以及多样性指数总体呈逐年下降趋势,群落结构趋于简单化,说明工程海域施工期对大型底栖动物产生了一定程度的影响。     

Essential fish habitats and hotspots of nekto‐benthic diversity and density in the western Mediterranean

1. Since the 1990s, most currently assessed Mediterranean nekto‐benthic stocks have been exploited above maximum sustainable yield and have declined. This study explores the co‐occurrence of essential fish habitats for the most important nekto‐benthic resources exploited by bottom‐trawl fisheries in the western Mediterranean and areas of importance for nekto‐benthic communities.
2. Fishery‐independent data obtained from Mediterranean scientific bottom‐trawl surveys were used to identify persistent hotspots of recruitment for the most important nekto‐benthic species around the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands between 2002 and 2016, as an indicator of their essential fish habitats. Likewise, hotspots of nekto‐benthic community diversity and density were also determined, as an estimate of key areas for nekto‐benthic communities.
3. Areas of overlap of persistent hotspots of recruitment and of community species richness and density were mainly found on the deep shelf and the upper slope (100–200 m and 200–500 m deep respectively).
4. These overlapping areas could be of particular interest in the development of fishery management plans aiming to implement an ecosystem approach to fisheries. Protection, through temporary or permanent closures, of the overlapping areas identified would contribute to improving both the sustainable exploitation of the main target species of bottom‐trawl fisheries and the conservation of nekto‐benthic communities.

     

The benthic environmental footprint of aquaculture in the Eastern Mediterranean: Organic vs conventional fish farming

A field experiment was carried out in a fish farm of the Eastern Mediterranean in order to evaluate the benthic environmental footprint of the organic versus the conventional fish farming. The highest values of chl α were recorded at the conventional culture during both studied seasons. The organic matter and organic carbon rates recorded at the conventional culture were significantly higher than those observed at the organic culture in both studied seasons (p < .05). Furthermore, in all cases the quality characteristics of benthic community variables were optimum at the organic culture compared to the conventional one and similar to those of the control. SIMPER analysis showed that the maximum average dissimilarity occurred between organic and conventional culture, while the main contributor species for this dissimilarity was the polychaete Capitella capitata. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) ordination plot indicated clearly a separation of the organic and conventional fish farming during both studied seasons. K‐dominance curves revealed a clear difference in elevation, mainly during summer. M‐AMBI index showed a poor to moderate environment for conventional culture, while organic one was good to high and similar to the control site (high). The results indicated the lower environmental footprint of the organic fish farming compared to the conventional, demonstrating its potential as an important management tool, which could play a significant ecological role for the sustainability of aquaculture in the Mediterranean region.     

Diseases of tunas,Thunnus spp

Much is known about those aspects of tuna health which can be studied in wild populations, e.g. helminth parasites. However, because aquaculture of these species is in its infancy, knowledge of microbial, nutritional and environmental diseases is limited. This review is an attempt to bring together the available information on those diseases of Thunnus spp. which cause significant morbidity, mortality or economic loss. In doing so it has become clear that much more research needs to be undertaken on the physiology of the species (southern, northern and Pacific bluefin tuna) currently used in aquaculture in order for the pathogenesis of some conditions to be properly understood. Attempts at hatchery culture of Pacific bluefin tuna has indicated that Thunnus spp. will be problematic to hatch and propagate.     

Mussel farming impacts on trophic status and benthic community structure in Maliakos Gulf (Eastern Mediterranean)

The impact of shellfish farming on the water column nutrient concentration and the benthic community structure was investigated seasonally at a mussel farm (Mytilus galloprovincialis L.) of Maliakos Gulf (Eastern Mediterranean). In most cases concentration of nutrients and chl a at the farm site was lower than those observed at the control sites. Statistical analysis in concentration of all nutrients and chl a indicated significant interactions between sites and seasons, which in all cases were temporal. Furthermore, no significant interactions were found between sites and seasons for all sediment and benthic community parameters, except for Shannon–Wiener diversity index and species richness. The significant interactions detected in the biotic data were temporal. Analysis of similarity and similarity percentages analysis revealed a certain fluctuation of benthic macrofaunal community during the overall sampling year mainly due to temporal rather than spatial effects. Cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling ordination plot indicated the clearly separation of the farm site and the control sites in most of the seasons. K-dominance curves showed small difference in elevation and overlap indicating minimal difference in biological stress between the farm site and the control sites. All the above indicates that probably the farming of mussels was beneficial for the trophic status of Maliakos Gulf and that there was a minimal environmental stress caused by the shellfish farming for the surrounding benthic environment.     

Polychaetes as indicators of marine fish farm organic enrichment

Marine fish farms cause environmental disturbance of sediment due to uneaten food and fish faeces that accumulate on the sea bottom. These products give rise to organic enrichment followed by degradation processes; reduction of level of dissolved oxygen in the bottom water; generation of high levels of sulfides; changes of benthic assemblages and even azoic conditions. The soft bottom benthic communities and, above all, the polychaetes are considered good indicators of environmental perturbations considering their relatively fast changes in diversity and abundance and because their trophic flexibility and life-history traits are considered a pre-adaptation to the condition of disturbed habitats. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the polychaete population changes as a result of organic enrichment produced by a marine fish farm. The study was carried out on a fish farm located in the coastal water of Porto Ercole (Tyrrhenian Sea) with two submersible sea cages and a year production of 180 tonnes. The macrobenthos samples were collected during four campaigns (July and December 2001, May and October 2002). The results showed: 1) a rapid change of the assemblage located beneath the cages related to the fish biomass reared and a high dominance of the opportunistic Capitella spp.; 2) limited sediment disturbance close to cages (20–50 m); 3) no effect in the area 50 m beyond the cages. Two months after the fish harvest and thus reduction of organic enrichment, perturbated assemblages showed signals of recovery like species richness increase and reduction of opportunistic species.     

人工鱼礁区不同底质对底栖游泳生物群落特征的影响

为探究人工鱼礁投放后的不同底质对底栖游泳生物群落结构特征的影响,实验以海区中央投放的构件礁划分半径为20、400和600 m 3个样带,采用地笼与摄像相结合的方法,分别于2017年6月和8月、2018年6月 (2次)、2019年6月和7月在小竹山岛人工鱼礁区进行了6个航次的调查。应用相对重要性指数 (IRI)、主坐标分析 (PCoA)和单因素方差分析等分析群落时空组成变化,利用广义加性模型 (GAM)研究环境因子对单位捕捞努力量 (CPUE)和多样性指数的影响。IRI和PCoA测定结果显示,地笼主要捕获日本蟳、海燕、大泷六线鱼、许氏平鲥及其他梭形鱼类;摄像主要捕获海燕等棘皮类、葛氏长臂虾、纹缟虾虎鱼、六丝钝尾虾虎鱼、钟馗虾虎鱼及矛尾刺虾虎鱼。单因素方差分析显示,两种采样方法在200和400 m样带的CPUE均较高,与600 m样带有显著差异,但年份间无显著差异。GAM模型显示,CPUE随投礁年份和底质类型的复杂度增加而增加,与构件礁及石块礁底质呈正相关,且受盐度及温度影响。多样性指数在样带、年际间无显著差异,GAM模型显示,其在地笼渔获物的多样性指数显著高于摄像,并受盐度、透明度影响,但与底质类型无关。本研究揭示了不同底质对底栖游泳生物的影响,证明了地笼与摄像结合调查方法的互补性,为多种鱼礁底质的管理提供参考依据。     

冻融期刺参养殖池塘沉积物菌群结构特征及其影响因素

本研究以我国北方典型岸基半开放刺参(Apostichopus japonicus)养殖池塘为对象,利用高通量测序技术构建冻融期刺参养殖池塘沉积物菌群16S rRNA基因测序文库,解析封冰期、融冰期和化冰期刺参养殖池塘沉积物菌群结构特征,并查明影响菌群结构的主导环境因子。结果显示,冻融期刺参养殖池塘沉积物菌群丰度和多样性表现为整体下调趋势,在融冰初期呈现显著性波动(P<0.05)。冻融期刺参养殖池塘沉积物菌群结构呈现显著性差异,封冰期、融冰期和化冰期差异菌群分别隶属于厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)和软壁菌门(Tenericutes)。尽管不同阶段微生物相对丰度比例不同,但第一优势菌门均隶属于变形菌门(Proteobacteria),相对丰度高于49.04%;次优势菌门则呈现出显著性变化,其中,封冰期为拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes),融冰期为绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)和放线菌门(Actinobacteria),化冰期为浮霉菌门(Planctomycetes)。环境因子与菌群相关性分析表明,冻融期刺参养殖池塘沉积物菌群结构与环境因子具有显著相关性(P<0.05),温度、盐度、总氮和总有机碳是沉积物菌群的主导环境因子。本研究将为刺参养殖池塘精细化管理提供理论依据。     

Spawning and rearing of Holothuria tubulosa: A new candidate for aquaculture in the Mediterranean region

Holothuria tubulosa (Gmelin, 1788) has recently shown an increased demand in Asian markets, becoming one of the intensively exploited holothurian species in the Mediterranean Sea. A risk is that over‐harvesting is likely affecting both the species' natural stocks and the benthic communities. In this scenario, sea ranching and restocking through aquaculture could assist in mitigating its overexploitation. This study is the first to demonstrate the successful artificial breeding and rearing of H. tubulosa, and its consequent potential as a new species for the Mediterranean aquaculture industry. Here we describe the spawning induction, larval development and early juvenile growth in hatchery cultures, aimed at developing a spawning and rearing protocol for this species. The trials were conducted from July to October in both 2014 and 2015. Holothuria tubulosa was induced to spawn by testing four different methods. Thermal stimulation plus thermal shock emerged as the most efficient method to obtain active and healthy gametes. Larval development in H. tubulosa progressed through five stages, reaching the juvenile stage in 27 days. Two different microalgal feeding regimens were tested for larval breeding. Under the best feeding conditions, 7% of the larvae metamorphosed into settled juveniles, adhering to artificial substrates previously conditioned with benthic biofilm. Our results indicate that H. tubulosa shows good performance in hatchery rearing during the larval phases, indicating that this species could be a new candidate for aquaculture in the Mediterranean region, both for production and restocking proposes.     

Preliminary study on the effects of exclusion of wild fauna from aquaculture cages in a shallow marine environment

Previous investigations into the environmental impacts at a shallow-water oligotrophic marine experimental cage aquaculture site in Western Australia have found no accumulation of organic material, and limited changes in macrofaunal communities. It was hypothesised that wild fish populations in the area consumed particulate wastes emanating from the cage, thus reducing the benthic impacts. An experiment was designed to quantify the accumulation of organic material on the seabed occurring in the presence and absence of wild fauna. Three treatments were arranged in duplicate, cages without exclusion nets (normal situation) (CAGE-FISH); cages surrounded by a 35-mm mesh exclusion net (preventing wild fish access to the sea bed and water column near the cage) (CAGE-FISH-EXCL); and empty cages surrounded by exclusion nets (to control for effects from the exclusion net) (CAGE-EXCL). In addition, four reference sites without cages (REF) were sampled. Following baseline sampling, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were stocked into the CAGE-FISH and the CAGE-FISH-EXCL treatments at an initial stocking density of 2.4 kg m⁻³. The experiment was terminated after 62 days, at a final stock density of 5.6 kg m⁻³. Sampling found significantly greater accumulation of nutrients and fine sediments under the cages enclosed in the exclusion net than in other treatments and sites. Levels of organic carbon deposition at cages with exclusion nets was found to be 4.5±1.0 g C m⁻² day⁻¹ (mean±S.E.) compared to 0.7 to 1.1 g C m⁻² day⁻¹ at control and reference sites.The accumulation of nutrients at the CAGE-FISH-EXCL sites was correlated to distinct changes in macrofaunal community composition, with a sharp increase in overall macrofaunal abundance and a growing dominance of capitellid polychaetes. Based on a comparison between sedimentation rates within and outside excluded areas, the proportions of the total sedimenting nutrients consumed by wild fish were calculated to be 40% to 60%. It was concluded that in the natural coastal system of Western Australia or comparable environments, wild fish are potential important consumers of cage aquaculture waste materials. The fact that sediment C, N and P did not increase below cages with fish and no exclusion nets suggests that the benthic fauna, including surface grazing fish, at these sites were able to assimilate much of the remaining total sedimentary nutrients.