Skip to search boxSkip to navigationSkip to main content

Mitigating the impact of harmful algal blooms on aquaculture using technological interventions: case study on a South African farm

  • Tahmina Ajmal
    ,
  • Fazeel Mohammed
    ,
  • Martin Goodchild
    ,
  • Jipsy Sudarsanan
    ,
  • Sarah Halse
  • Abagold Limited
    ,
  • University of Bedfordshire
Research Output:
Contribution to journal
Article
 Peer-review

Open access

Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 14 - Life Below Water
    SDG 14 Life Below Water

Abstract

Seafood, especially from the ocean, is now seen as a greener and more sustainable source of protein, causing an increase in its demand. This has also led to people making choices towards seafood as a replacement for carbon-intensive protein sources. As a result, the demand for seafood is growing, and as the aquaculture industry looks to increase production, keeping products safe and sustainable is imperative. There are many challenges faced by the aquaculture industry in meeting these increased demands. One such challenge is the presence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the ocean, which can have a major impact on aquatic life. In this paper, we look at the impact of this challenge on aquaculture and monitoring strategies whilst illustrating the potential for technological interventions to help mitigate the impact of an HAB. We will focus on Abagold Limited, a land-based marine aquaculture business that specialises in the large-scale production of abalone (Haliotis midae) based in Hermanus, South Africa. HABs are considered a threat to commercial-scale abalone farming along the South African coastline and require continuous monitoring. The most recent HAB was in February–April 2019, when the area experienced a severe red-tide event with blooms of predominantly Lingulodinium polyedrum. We present some of the monitoring strategies employing digital technologies to future-proof the industry. This article presents the development of a novel hybrid water quality forecasting model based on a TriLux multi-parameter sensor to monitor key water quality parameters. The actual experimental real water quality data from Abagold Limited show a good correlation as a basis for a forecasting model which would be a useful tool for the management of HABs in the aquaculture industry.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output:
Contribution to journal
Article
 Peer-review

Original language

English

Article number

3650

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Sustainability (Switzerland) (Volume 16, Issue 9)

Publication milestones

  • Accepted/In press - 23/04/2024
  • Published - 26/04/2024

Publication status

Published - 26/04/2024

ISSN

2071-1050

Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/626279
  • Scopus: 85192717517
  • ORCID: /0000-0003-2170-5248/work/180105504

Access to documents

Publication metrics

Metrics

Download statistics
Download count
15