FOAM the new degradation model coupled with the advection-lagrangian dispersion model: the impact evaluation of the fish farm waste
Patrizia De Gaetano, Andrea M. Doglioli, Paolo Vassallo, Marcello G. Magaldi
DIFI, Dipartimento di Fisica, Universit\`a di Genova, Genoa, Italy
(Abstract received 08/13/2009 for session E)
ABSTRACT
A new numerical benthic degradative module FOAM (Finite Organic Accumulation Module) has been developed in order to improve the prediction of the potential impact of marine fish farms. FOAM has been coupled with the model POM-LAMP3D, an advection and lagrangian dispersion model able to compute the 3D particle concentration in the sea. Real historic current-meter data are employed to force the hydrodynamic and dispersion simulations and recent measurements of settling velocity values specifically targeting Mediterranean fish species are considered. FOAM uses the output of the other functional units of the modeling framework to calculate the organic load on the seabed, considering the natural capability of the seafloor in absorbing part of this organic load. Different remineralization rates reflect the sediment stress levels and are used to compute the organic carbon concentration remaining on the seabed. Two sampling campaigns have been performed in a typical Mediterranean fish farm in the warm and cold season in 2006 in order to measure the benthic response to the organic load and the mineralization rates in the Mediterranean conditions. Organic degradation for both uneaten feed and faeces is evaluated by changing release modality (continuous and periodical) and by varying the settling velocities. The results show that the feed, especially released in periodical mode, produces the greatest impacts and in the Mediterranean conditions, the benthic response to the organic enrichment of the bottom depends on water temperature. The introduced modeling framework successfully improves capability predictions, therefore it can represent an important tool in decision making processes, for planning and monitoring purposes.
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