Impact of the intensive shrimp farming on the water quality of the adjacent coastal creeks from Eastern China

The effects of shrimp aquaculture on the adjacent water bodies over a crop cycle period were evaluated by studying the water quality of inlet and outlet creeks located within Xuwei Salt Field, Lianyungang City of Jiangsu Province. The characterization of the water consisted of the evaluation of the variation of 10 parameters along the inlet and outlet creeks and during the period of March–September. These parameters were pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, nutrients (ammonium, nitrite, nitrate and inorganic phosphorus), Chlorophyll a, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC). Average concentrations of inorganic nitrogen (1.5 mg/l), inorganic phosphorus (0.024 mg/l), Chlorophyll a (0.0025 mg/l), COD (5.77 mg/l) and TOC (6.57 mg/l) at the discharge site in the outlet creek were significantly higher than in the inlet creek (0.33, 0.012, 0.0018, 4.72 and 3.68 mg/l, respectively). There were no significant differences between the inlet and outlet creeks in pH, temperature and DO. With a water quality criteria based on local laws, a significant pollution was observed in the area, with inorganic nitrogen being the most significant pollutant, followed by COD and inorganic phosphorus.