ABSTRACT
Removal of particles from fish farm effluents may lead to substantial reductions in the environmental impacts from the fish farming industry. This reduction is associated with a corresponding drop in oxygen consuming organic matter, with a substantial decrease in the formation of sludge, and a reduced discharge of nutrients as well as microorganisms.
Based upon the results from commercial scale experiments, this paper characterizes treated (microstrained) and untreated effluents from Atlantic salmon smolt production and Atlantic salmon grow out, with respect to concentrations and total discharges of suspended solids, organics, nitrogen and phosphorus.
The paper also discusses some sludge characteristics and effluent discharge reductions obtained from relatively long term operation of different types of commercially available microstrainers for particle removal. In addition to this, a particle trap combined with a whirl separator is tested.
Finally, alternative effluent control strategies are presented and the applicability of different types of effluent treatment systems is discussed.
