Applications of Aquatic Plants in the Remediation of Aquaculture Wastewater: An Opportunity for African Aquaculture

Abstract

Aquaculture has proven to enhance food production to meet the growing population’s food security demand. The sustainability of aquaculture farming requires environmental sustainability, particularly the disposal of wastewater produced during aquaculture farming. The large volume of wastewater exchanged during production poses a challenge to safe disposal. Wastewater from aquaculture contains high concentrations of nitrogen, chemical oxygen demand, and phosphorus, mainly from uneaten feeds. The nutrients contaminate water bodies and threaten the life of aquatic organisms in the water by boosting the growth of toxic algae. The treatment of wastewater from aquaculture before disposal is a necessity. Currently, small-scale farmers discard untreated wastewater into ponds that do not treat wastewater because of the inability to afford treatment facilities. Commercial aquaculture farming uses conventional methods that create secondary pollution of increased carbon footprint resulting from high energy consumption. Plants have proven to be efficient in removing nitrogen and phosphorus and improving the water quality produced in aquaculture. Therefore, this chapter has looked at studies using plants to remove contaminants in aquaculture wastewater, and as prospects for African aquaculture farmers.