海水鱼类网箱养殖水域沉积物有机质的来源甄别

利用稳定碳氮同位素示踪技术,对南沙港网箱养殖水域沉积物中有机质的来源进行了分析研究。结果表明,网箱养殖区(距离网箱边缘100 m范围内)及对照区(距离网箱边缘大于500 m)沉积物的δ13C值分别为(-17.72±1.2)‰和(-12.73±0.38)‰,δ15N分别为(6.44±0.2)‰和(5.61±0.2)‰。网箱养殖区沉积物的有机质来源主要为残饵和鱼类粪便,比例分别占47.70%和27.71%。随着与养殖网箱距离的增加,网箱养殖源有机质(残饵和鱼类粪便之和)的比例降低,变化趋势符合指数方程y=97.167e-0.007 4x(R2=0.848 1),在潮流驱动的沉积物再悬浮及野生鱼类的扰动影响下,网箱养殖源有机质的水平位移可达400 m。鱼类网箱养殖的养殖废物是南沙港水域沉积物有机污染的主要来源。     

三沙湾大黄鱼网箱养殖衍生有机物的沉降特征

为了解三沙湾大黄鱼（）网箱养殖衍生有机物（AOM）的沉降特征，采用原位实验方法，收集区域内使用颗粒饲料和冰鲜饵料两种典型饲喂方式下距离网箱200 m范围内AOM样品，分析其沉降量、营养物质[颗粒有机物（POM）、颗粒有机碳（POC）、颗粒态氮（PN）、总磷（TP）]沉降通量和扩散特点。研究结果表明，饲喂颗粒饲料状态下AOM沉降量显著高于投喂冰鲜饵料，两者均值分别为（563.66±119.18）g/（m²·d）和（266.07±139.15）g/（m²·d）。POM、POC、PN和TP沉降通量在两种饲喂方式下的差异与之相似，饲喂颗粒饲料时各参数均值分别为（27.25±2.43）g/（m²·d）、（6.03±0.58）g/（m²·d）、（0.66±0.06）g/（m²·d）和（0.39±0.04）g/（m²·d）；饲喂冰鲜饵料时各参数均值分别为（13.04±1.62）g/（m²·d），（3.57±0.45）g/（m²·d）、（0.51±0.06）g/（m²·d）和（0.22±0.04）g/（m²·d）。沿近底层海流主导流向距离养殖网箱100 m的空间范围内，AOM沉降量和营养物质沉降通量均呈现自网箱处递减的变化特征，下降程度在饲喂冰鲜饵料时尤为显著。AOM中POC、PN和TP含量在饲喂冰鲜饵料时较高，在距离养殖网箱50 m范围内呈现递减趋势。综上，在三沙湾大黄鱼网箱养殖过程中，投喂颗粒饲料引发的环境污染程度高于冰鲜饵料，两种情形下的AOM沉降影响主要限于距离养殖网箱50~100 m的空间范围。三沙湾内饲喂颗粒饲料引发较高营养物质沉降通量源于较大的AOM沉降量，此现象说明养殖过程中可能存在颗粒饲料过度投喂、饵料利用效率较低等问题，围绕此类问题的针对性研究对于减缓区域内养殖活动的环境影响具有重要意义。     

Nocturnal feeding reduces sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax, L.) pellet-catching ability

European sea bass exhibits a feeding rhythm with seasonal phase inversions: nocturnal feeding is predominant in winter, and diurnal feeding during the rest of the year. This explains the increased growth of sea bass fed at night during the winter months, but to fully assess such feeding practices, it is important to monitor food-catching efficiency in the dark. To evaluate the influence of nocturnal feeding on pellet-capture efficiency under laboratory conditions, we developed an infrared pellet detector linked to on-line recording with a microcomputer. Feed waste was recorded for eight groups of four sea bass (54.6±15.8 g body weight) fed either diurnal or nocturnal meals with long (>60 s) or short (<20 s) feed availability times. With short feed availability times, food-catching efficiency in complete darkness (0 lx) was reduced to 78.6%, compared to 93.5% in diurnally fed fish. This was confirmed in a second experiment, performed during winter, involving 4000 sea bass in four sea cages (1000 per cage) provided with self-feeders and pellets detectors. Feed waste amounted to less than 13% of the food distributed, but nocturnal demands (29% of total feed demands) were accompanied by higher levels of uneaten pellets (68% of the total feed waste) than diurnal demand. This suggests that if the aim is to reduce feed waste, nocturnal feeding should be restricted in sea cages.     

Spatial and temporal variations of sediment quality in and around fish cage farms: A case study of aquaculture in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan

ABSTRACT: Fish cage farming generates large amounts of organic waste in the form of unconsumed feed and fecal matter, resulting in sediment deterioration and a threat to its own sustainability. Field studies analysed the scale of the impact of fish cage farming on sediment quality, variability of impact and spread of sediment enrichment in the vicinity of a fish farm. Two fish culture sites near the Fukuyama area of the Seto Inland Sea of Japan were chosen for the study. There was a significant difference between the quality of the sediment in aquaculture and non-aquaculture areas. The sediment underlying the fish cage farms was found to be extremely reducing, acidic and sulfidic. Sediment ignition loss did not vary markedly with the season. However, the redox potential and acid volatile sulfide content of aquaculture areas did show some seasonal variation. Sediment encircling a 165 m radius from the center of a farm in Yokota was judged as organically enriched by fish farming. A variation in sediment quality within the two sites and also within the stations was observed. Based on sediment quality, the stations could be categorized as less affected, highly affected or moderately affected.     

Influence of improved feed quality and food conversion ratios on phosphorus loadings from cage culture of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus rnykiss (Walbaum), in freshwater lakes

The expansion of freshwater cage culture in Scotland during the 1980s led to concern with respect to the impact of nutrient, particularly phosphorus (P), discharges on water quality in lakes. The primary route by which P enters the aquatic environment from cage farms is through the feed administered to the fish. In recent years, there have been considerable technological advances in feed manufacturing and improved feeding practices at farm level. This paper investigates how P inputs to freshwater lakes from cage farms may be reduced through changes in diets and improved food conversion ratios. The results demonstrate that there has been a significant improvement in the P content of freshwater trout diets in recent years and that it is possible to reduce waste P loadings from cage sites through the use of better-quality diets and improved feed management. In Scotland, production levels in freshwater cages are commonly set by the regulatory authority assuming a soluble waste P loading of 10 kg P tonne^?1 of fish produced. This study suggests that actual soluble waste P loadings are likely to be far lower than this and that, as a result, increases in water column total P levels may be overestimated.     

Intrinsic settling rate and spatial diffusion properties of extruded fish feed pellets

Spatial and temporal feed distribution in sea cages are important factors for the farmer, fish and environment due to the strong relation to growth, feed loss, pollution and welfare. This study presents a set of experimentally derived diffusion parameters and settling rates obtained in still water from four sizes and three densities of extruded fish feed pellets commonly used in aquaculture. It was found that pellet size is positively correlated with increased diffusion and that pellet density plays a less important role. Both the size and density of pellets had a significant impact on the settling rate. Results are compared to values obtained during feed production as well as other relevant studies. The findings suggest that parameters related to hydrodynamic behaviour of groups of feed pellets may vary across different pellet types. The results may be applied to refine and parameterize pellet motion in sea cage feeding models, improving estimates of fish behaviour, growth and feed loss.     

The cause of death of juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) reared in sea net cages

Although the survival rate of juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis (PBT) during 30 days after stocking in sea net cages has been as low as approximately 50%, the reason for this high mortality is not clear. The dead fish were collected and counted during 30 days after stocking in a sea net cage, and the growth performance, stomach contents, and bone injury were investigated. Nearly half (47.9%) had died within the first 4 days. The total length and body weight of the dead fish were significantly smaller than those of the live fish, and the weight of the dead fish did not increase during the first 7 days. Approximately one-third of the dead fish (21.9–42.9% per day) had ingested inorganic matter such as wood or Styrofoam waste during the first 7 days, and 25.0–45.0% of the dead fish sampled per day showed poor growth. The daily ingestion rate of inorganic matter decreased dramatically from the eighth day, when the daily mortality rate decreased. The percentage of dead fish with bone injuries due to collision or contact was low (less than 15%). These results suggest that one of the causes of high mortality during several days after stocking in a sea cage was accidental ingestion of inorganic matter by juvenile PBT. Improvement in feeding method can increase the survival rate of juveniles in sea net cages.     

Effects of water flow velocity and fish culture on net biofouling in fish cages

The effects of water flow, fish feed and cage position on net biofouling was examined in a floating cage fish farm. Fouling of 16 mm mesh net panels suspended inside and outside net cages and exposed to different treatments were monitored weekly until net apertures were completely occluded by the fouling organisms (8 weeks). Results indicate a dramatic reduction in water flow velocity throughout the fish farm due to the cage units themselves and net biofouling. The reduced water flow (<10 cm s^?1) inside net cages promoted rapid net biofouling, while rapid water flow outside the net cages (>25 cm s^?1) kept the net fouling organisms at bay. Although fish rearing in net cages with inputs of commercial pellet feed increased sessile biofouling (222% higher than outside the net cages) and non‐sessile biofouling (570% higher), the type of fish feed used did not significantly affect biofouling development. The study recommends that the geometry of serially arranged net cages, as commonly deployed in tropical tidal estuaries, be reconfigured to improve flow through in order to minimize the impact of fouling.     

Physical Characteristics of Commercial Pelleted Atlantic Salmon Feeds and Consideration of Implications for Modeling of Waste Dispersion through Sedimentation

Models used to employ waste dispersion from sea cages rarely take into account the physical characteristics of fish feed and faeces. In this study we determine the hardness, friability, water absorption properties and settling velocity of a range of commercial Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) feeds, under defined laboratory conditions.Hardness of large, high energy pellets ( 8.5 mm) was generally greater than that of 6 mm high energy pellets. With the exception of 100 mm pellets, the friability of large pellets was also greater than that of the smaller pellets. Settling velocities were significantly greater at 20 psu than at 33 psu and significantly higher for most pellet types at 10 °C than at 20 °C. Settling velocities for unsoaked pellets were found to increase with pellet size, from a mean of 5.6 cm s^–1 for the smallest pellet (2 mm) to 13.9 cm s^–1 for the 10 mm standard (20 to 24% fat) pellets. The smallest feed pellets (2 mm) had the greatest percentage wet weight increase on immersion, irrespective of salinity. Settling velocities of pellets were not significantly affected by immersion time (0–15 min).Given the water depths at fish cage sites and the settling times involved, it is concluded that it is unnecessary to take account of changes in food pellet settling velocity as a result of immersion. Effects of pellet size and salinity on settling velocity are best incorporated into waste dispersion models through the use of 'look-up' tables.     

Assessment of the removal efficiency of fish farm effluents by grey mullets: a nutritional approach

A field study was carried out to assess the use of the bottom‐feeding grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) within benthic enclosures as a means to reduce the benthic impacts of a net cage fish farm in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. Five experimental 1‐m³ net‐cage enclosures were stocked with 12 grey mullets each (fish weights 50, 70 or 144 g). The enclosures had no bottom and the mullets had access to the enclosed organically enriched sediments and to particulate matter (PM) falling from the overlying cages. Sediment traps were used to quantify and qualify the PM falling from the fish farm to the sea floor. Simultaneously, a feeding trial was performed with mullets (50 and 70 g) in experimental tanks. In order to estimate the potential growth rate and to quantify energy and protein requirements, the fish were fed a formulated diet with known composition. After approximately 70 days at sea, mullets in the enclosures had used up all the available food in the sediment and gained up to 0.78 g day^?1 fish^?1. Applying the values for energy and protein requirements for maintenance and growth derived from the experimental trial, estimates indicated that the grey mullets effectively removed 4.2 g organic carbon, 0.70 g nitrogen and 7.5 mg phosphorus kg^?1 mullet m^?2 day^?1 from the organically enriched sediment. Thus deployment of grey mullets may be an efficient means to improve the quality of sediments below intensive net‐cage fish farms.     

Feeding of juvenile cobia,Rachycentron canadum: Evaluation of practical feeds,comparison of commercial fishmeal replacers,and estimation of essential amino acid requirements

Three studies were conducted with juvenile cobia, Rachycentron canadum: (Study 1) a 10‐week feeding trial within floating net cages to test the nutritional efficacy of different dietary feeding regimes (trash‐fish control diet, a semimoist diet, an in‐house dry formulated diet, and a commercial cobia feed); (Study 2) a 10‐week feeding trial within an indoor water‐recirculating tank‐based system to test the nutritional efficiency of different potential dietary fishmeal replacers (poultry byproduct meal, soy protein concentrate, feather meal), a diet without taurine supplementation, and a commercial cobia feed; and (Study 3) estimation of the essential amino acid (EAA) requirements of cobia based on EAA whole‐body composition in fast‐growing cobia fed a trash‐fish‐based diet. Fish performance in terms of growth and feed efficiency was the greatest within the outdoor net‐cage feeding trial, with fish fed the control trash‐fish‐based diet exhibiting the best performance. Although fish growth was poorer within the indoor feeding trials, fish performance was similar for most diets, with apparent crude protein digestibility coefficients of over 75% being obtained in all experimental diets in both feeding trials. The estimated EAA requirements of cobia obtained during this study were similar to those reported for other similar marine carnivorous fish species.     

Survival, growth and feeding of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., smolts after transfer to sea water in relation to the failed smolt syndrome

Abstract. An increase in mortalities, due to the failure of some smolts to feed after transfer to sea cages, has been observed in many fish farms during the last 2 years. In the present study mortalities were as high as 9–5% and the majority of these appeared 7–9 weeks post-transfer. Comparisons of length-weight relationships between the initial group of smolts released in the cage and at 3-, 6- and 8-wcek intervals after transfer showed that a proportion of the fish had lost weight. The condition factor of individually measured fish also confirmed that with increasing time after transfer some fish were in a much poorer condition.
The feeding of smolts after transfer was not related to their size. The fork length distribution of feeding and non-feeding fish showed that feeding fish were recruited from all size classes of the initial population.
The lack of appetite in smolts after transfer was demonstrated by the reduced number of fish feeding and by the amount of food consumed. In the first week after transfer only 10% of the fish were feeding in the sea cage, increasing to 65% after 5 weeks. In the tanks (where there were no failed smolts) 95% of the smolts were feeding within 5 weeks after transfer, whereas in the sea cage it took 8 weeks before this figure was reached.     

Effects of sea cage salmon farming on sediment nitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reductions

Within a few months of the establishment of a sea cage salmon farm in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand, sediment physical and chemical characteristics reflected the extremely high sedimentation rate immediately underneath the fish cages. In the surface sediment, dry weight was reduced to about one-third, density was halved and the volatile solids content increased about seven-fold compared with nearby sediments. Similarly, the sediment pools of ammonium, organic N and total phosphorus were much higher underneath the cages than at farther removed sites. The total N/P ratios were the same (1.5) in the surface sediment underneath the cages and in the feed but markedly higher in the less affected areas. In situ nitrification and denitrification were not measurable in the immediate vicinity of the salmon farm. The potentials for nitrification and denitrification gradually increased from virtually nil underneath the fish cages to commonly observed rates about 30 m from the cages. The complete absence of denitrifying enzymes in the salmon farm sediment to a depth of 6 cm explained why nitrate diffusing from the water column into the sediment was not denitrified. Within 10 m of the fish cages the bulk of added ¹⁵N-nitrate was reduced to ¹⁵N-ammonium. The results demonstrate that nitrification/denitrification in the immediate vicinity of a sea cage fish farm is not a significant mechanism of N removal.     

Beneficial co‐culture of jellyfish Rhopilema esculenta (Kishinouye) and sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka): implications for pelagic‐benthic coupling

This study investigated monthly changes of sedimentation and sediment properties in three different culture systems (ponds) – i.e. jellyfish Rhopilema esculenta monoculture (J), sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus and jellyfish co‐culture (SJ) and sea cucumber monoculture (S) – to verify the feasibility of co‐culturing jellyfish and sea cucumbers. Results showed that jellyfish culture accelerated the settling velocity of total particulate matter (TPM). Average TPM settling velocities in the SJ (75.6 g m^?2 day^?1) and J (71.1 g m^?2 day^?1) ponds were significantly higher than that in the S pond (21.7 g m^?2 day^?1) from June to September during the jellyfish culture period. Average settling velocities of organic matter (OM), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) in the SJ pond increased significantly by 3.0, 2.9, 3.3 and 3.8 times, respectively, compared with those in the S pond. Sediment contents of OM, TOC, TN and TP in the SJ and J ponds were significantly higher than those in the S pond during the jellyfish culture season. The specific growth rate of sea cucumbers feeding on SJ sediment was significantly higher than that of those feeding on S sediment. Co‐culturing sea cucumbers with jellyfish may help alleviate benthic nutrient loading due to the jellyfish and provide a secondary cash crop.     

Heavy metal concentrations and sediment quality of a cage farm on Lake Volta,Ghana

This study involved the determination of sediment quality and heavy metals in the water column and bottom sediment of a selected cage fish farm in Lake Volta, to assess the potential impact of metals and organic matter pollution on the lake due to cage fish farming. Sediment analysis indicated that the texture of all sampling sites was sandy clay loam with sand dominating with a range of 31.5%–81.2%. The organic matter (TOM) ranged from 4.42%–8.89%, while organic carbon (TOC) was from 2.57%–5.22%. Total nitrogen (TN) fluctuated between 0.22% and 0.45%; total phosphate ranged between 0.22% and 5.30%. The TOC, TOM and TN content in the farm sediment were significantly lower than those of the reference sites (ANOVA, p < .05). Lead, copper, cadmium and selenium were not detected in the water. The results revealed that heavy metal concentrations in the water column and sediments were low and within tolerable levels, indicating no influence of metals from fish feed was observed on the lake water quality. However, the farm seemed to have moderate impact on sediment quality from organic matter. Water and sediment quality monitoring should be embarked upon periodically to ensure sustainable cage culture in the Lake Volta.     

鱼类网箱养殖对水环境的影响

随着我国鱼类网箱养殖业的发展，网箱养鱼的规模和密度越来越大。由于投喂饵料的利用率较低．未被利用饵料的沉积、漂移、降解以及养殖鱼类的代谢产物对养殖水域的环境产生了巨大的压力。本文就鱼类网箱养殖对水环境的污染问题作一简要概述。     

Influence of feeding regime on intraspecific competition, fin damage and growth in 1+ Atlantic salmon parr (Salmo salar L.) held in freshwater production cages

The feeding behaviour, growth and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of cage‐held Atlantic salmon parr (Salmo salar L.) were studied when in 576 m³ (12 m × 12 m × 4 m) commercial freshwater cages under ambient water temperature (8.84±3.53°C) and photoperiod (11.02±2.05 h) for 205 days. The effect of feeding regime on fin damage was also investigated. Six groups (n=31 234±2051 fish group⁻¹, initial stocking density 1.25±0.14 kg m⁻³) were fed to satiation using either (a) an imposed regime involving scheduled, fixed ration feeding every 10 min from dawn till dusk or (b) on demand from dawn till dusk using commercial interactive feedback systems. During feeding, there were no significant differences in aggression although swimming speeds and turning angles were significantly higher in fish under the imposed regime. On‐demand feeding significantly reduced the incidence of dorsal fin damage. There was no clear relationship between fish size, feed regime and the incidence of fin damage until 1 week before the fish were transferred to marine cages, when the smallest fish under each feeding regime had the highest incidence of fin damage. Interestingly, growth did not differ between regimes, but fish under the imposed regime were significantly overfed and achieved higher FCRs.     

Efficacy of Sarafloxacin Hydrochloride in Treating Naturally-Induced Edwardsiella ictaluri Infections in Channel Catfish,Ictalurus punctatus

Sarafin (sarafloxacin hydrochloride), a new antibacterial, was evaluated in the field on a naturally induced infection of Edwardsiella ictaluri in channel catfish, -Ictalurus punctatus. Healthy channel catfish (mean weight = 50 g) were stocked into nine cages at 200 fish per cage in a pond with an undergoing E. ictaluri infection. Seven days after stocking, dead fish were observed in the cages with clinical signs of enteric septicemia of channel catfish (ESC). After E. ictaluri was confirmed through isolative biochemical tests, medicated feed was applied for five consecutive days. During this period, fish in three control cages received a commercial 32% protein floating feed, three other cages of fish served as positive controls and were fed Romet, and three cages received the test feed with Sarafin. Both medicated feeds reduced the increase in cumulative percent mortality. In the control cages, cumulative percent mortalities continued to increase throughout the study period. Average daily mortality rates were significantly lower following both treatments of medicated feed, and treatments receiving Sarafin showed the greatest reduction in average daily mortality rates. Average daily mortality rates in the control did not change after the medicated feeding period. Toward the end of the study, temperatures reached 30°C, above the active range of ESC infections, and all mortalities ceased.     

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.     

Chemical fluxes and mass balances in a marine fish cage farm. III. Silicon

Fluxes and pathways of silicon in a marine rainbow trout cage farm were studied. The measured fluxes included those carried by fish food, juveniles, harvest, fish loss (death and escape), sedimentation from the cages, and benthic release measured with flux chambers in-situ. Two different types of Si mass balances for the farm were constructed. The mass balance according to the flux method was based on the measured fluxes and constructed for each of two consecutive growing seasons. The mass balance constructed according to the accumulation method was based on the total input and removal of Si to the cages of the farm since it was started, and the recovery of Si in the sediment originating from the farm. In both types of mass balances external input was the major source of Si, contributing a minimum of 55–80% of the total biogenic silica in the material collected in sediment traps below the farm and of the material accumulated in the farm-derived sediment. The Si removed from the farm with harvest contributed a very small part, 0.3%, of the amount of Si supplied to the farm with fish food and juveniles. The loss of Si to the environment was 2.4 kg (1985), 2.5 kg (1986) and 2.5 kg (1980–1986) for each ton of fish produced. On a seasonal basis, about 4.5% of the sedimented biogenic Si was returned in dissolved form from the sediment to the overlying water. This constituted about 0.3% of the biogenic Si content in the farm-derived sediment. The flux of reactive silicate from sediment below the fish farm was enhanced about 2.5 times compared to nearby sediments unaffected by the farm.