Skip to main content

Assessment and monitoring of nutrient loading in the sediments of tidal creeks receiving shrimp farm effluent in Quang Ninh, Vietnam

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment volume 185, pages 8715–8731 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Coastal shrimp farming may lead to the contamination of sediments of surrounding estuarine and marine ecosystems as shrimp farm effluent often contains high levels of pollutants including a range of organic compounds (from uneaten feed, shrimp feces, and living and dead organisms) which can accumulate in the sediments of receiving waterways. The assessment and monitoring of sediment quality in tidal creeks receiving shrimp farm effluent can support environmental protection and decision making for sustainable development in coastal areas since sediment quality often shows essential information on long-term aquatic ecosystem health. Within this context, this paper investigates nutrient loadings in the sediments of tidal creeks receiving shrimp farm effluent in Quang Ninh, Vietnam, which now have a high concentration of intensive and semi-intensive shrimp farms. Sediment samples taken from inside creek sections directly receiving effluent from concentrated shrimp farms (IEC), from main creeks adjacent to points of effluent discharge outside concentrated shrimp farms (OEC), and few kilometers away from shrimp farms (ASF) as reference sites were collected and analyzed before and after shrimp crops to investigate spatial and temporal variation. The results showed that there were statistically significant differences in the concentrations of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total organic carbon among IEC, OEC, and ASF sites while the seasonal variation being limited over study times. A sediment nutrient index (SNI) computed from coefficient scores of the factor analysis efficiently summarizes sediment nutrient loads, which are high, albeit quite variable, in canals directly receiving effluents from farms but then decline sharply with distance from shrimp farms. The visualization and monitoring of sediment quality data including SNI on maps can strongly support managers to manage eutrophication at concentrated shrimp farming areas, contributing to sustainable development and management at coastal zones.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

References

  • Alexander, T., Joseph, B. R., & Kevin, S. M. (2005). Anthropogenic enrichment alters a marine benthic food web. Ecology, 86, 2726–2736.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anh, P. T., Kroeze, C., Bush, S. R., & Mol, A. P. J. (2010). Water pollution by intensive brackish shrimp farming in south-east Vietnam: causes and options for control. Agricultural Water Management, 97, 872–882.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arakel, A., Hanna, R., & McConchie, D. (1995). Sediment quality in Australian river basins: a compartmental approach to assessment of regional sediment-variability factor. In W. R. Osterkamp (Ed.), Effects of scale on interpretation and management of sediment and water quality. Boulder: IAHS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biao, X., Zhuhong, D., & Xiaorong, W. (2004). Impact of the intensive shrimp farming on the water quality of the adjacent coastal creeks from Eastern China. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 48, 543–553.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouillon, S., Dahdouh-Guebas, F., Rao, A. V. V. S., Koedam, N., & Dehairs, F. (2003). Sources of organic carbon in mangrove sediments: variability and possible ecological implications. Hydrobiologia, 495, 33–39.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boyd, C. E. (1992). Shrimp pond bottom soil and sediment management. In J. Wyban (Ed.), Proceedings of the Special Section on Shrimp Farming. Baton Rouge: World Aquaculture Society.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyd, C. E., & Teichert-Coddington, D. (1995). Dry matter, ash, and elemental composition of pond-cultured Penaeus vannamei and P. stylirostris. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 26, 88–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyd, C. E., & Tucker, C. S. (1998). Pond aquaculture water quality management. Boston: Kluwer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Boynton, W., Garber, J., Summers, R., & Kemp, W. (1995). Inputs, transformations, and transport of nitrogen and phosphorus in Chesapeake Bay and selected tributaries. Estuaries and Coasts, 18, 285–314.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Briggs, M. R. P., & Funge-Smith, S. J. (1994). A nutrient budget of some intensive marine shrimp ponds in Thailand. Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, 25, 789–811.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bui, T. D., Luong-Van, J., & Austin, C. M. (2012). Impact of shrimp farm effluent on water quality in coastal areas of the world heritage-listed Ha Long Bay. American Journal of Environmental Sciences, 8, 104–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burford, M. A., Costanzo, S. D., Dennison, W. C., Jackson, C. J., Jones, A. B., McKinnon, A. D., et al. (2003). A synthesis of dominant ecological processes in intensive shrimp ponds and adjacent coastal environments in NE Australia. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 46, 1456–1469.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burns, R. P., & Burns, R. (2008). Cluster analysis. Business research methods and statistics using SPSS. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, P. M., & Wang, F. (2001). Assessing sediment contamination in estuaries. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 20, 3–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Costanzo, S. D., O’Donohue, M. J., & Dennison, W. C. (2004). Assessing the influence and distribution of shrimp pond effluent in a tidal mangrove creek in north-east Australia. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 48, 514–525.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CTCC. (2008). Report of adjustment of the masterplan for fishery in Quang Ninh Province in 2007–2010 and orientations towards. Project of Adjustment of the Master Plan for Fishery in Quang Ninh Province in 2007–2010 and Orientations Towards 2020. Ha Long: Construction and Trading Consultant Joint-Stock Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dierberg, F., & Kiattisimkul, W. (1996). Issues, impacts, and implications of shrimp aquaculture in Thailand. Environmental Management, 20, 649–666.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DoE Washington State 2008. Sediment sampling and analysis plan appendix: guidance on the development of sediment sampling and analysis plans meeting the requirements of the sediment management standards (Chapter 173–204 WAC). Washington State Department of Ecology: Ecology Publication No. 03-09-043

  • DoF Quang Ninh. (2001). Masterplan for fishery development of Quang Ninh Province in 2001–2010. Ha Long: Fishery Department of Quang Ninh Province.

  • DoF Quang Ninh. (2005). Report of the implementation of plans for concentrated aquaculture areas in Quang Ninh Province. Ha Long: Fishery Department of Quang Ninh Province.

    Google Scholar 

  • DSNR. 2008. Soil Survey Standard Test Methods: Organic Carbon [Online]. Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, New South Wales. Available: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/soils/testmethods/oc.pdf [Accessed 2008].

  • Ennos, R. (2007). Statistical and data handling skills in biology. New York: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO 2011. Fishery Statistics—FishStatJ. Fisheries and Aquaculture Department.

  • Farías, L. (2003). Remineralization and accumulation of organic carbon and nitrogen in marine sediments of eutrophic bays: the case of the Bay of Concepcion, Chile. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 57, 829–841.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Field, A. P. (2009). Discovering statistics using SPSS. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flaherty, M., & Karnjanakesorn, C. (1995). Marine shrimp aquaculture and natural resource degradation in Thailand. Environmental Management, 19, 27–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Funge-Smith, S. J., & Briggs, M. R. P. (1998). Nutrient budgets in intensive shrimp ponds: implications for sustainability. Aquaculture, 164, 117–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao, J., Wang, Y., Pan, S., Zhang, R., Li, J., & Bai, F. (2008). Spatial distributions of organic carbon and nitrogen and their isotopic compositions in sediments of the Changjiang Estuary and its adjacent sea area. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 18, 46–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • General Statistics Office of Vietnam. 2011a. Statistical Data [Online]. Ha Noi. Available: http://www.gso.gov.vn/default_en.aspx?tabid=491 [Accessed 2011].

  • General Statistics Office of Vietnam. (2011b). Statistical Yearbook of Vietnam—2010. Ha Noi: Statistical Publishing House.

    Google Scholar 

  • GESAMP. (2001). Planning and management for sustainable coastal aquaculture. Rome: UN/UNEP/FAO/UNESCO/WHO/WMO/IMO/IAEA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Golterman, H. L. (2004). The chemistry of phosphate and nitrogen compounds in sediments. New York: Kluwer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gräslund, S., Holmström, K., & Wahlström, A. (2003). A field survey of chemicals and biological products used in shrimp farming. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 46, 81–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guerrero-Galván, S. R., Páez-Osuna, F., Ruiz-Fernández, A. C., & Espinoza-Angulo, R. (1998). Seasonal variation in the water quality and chlorophyll a of semi-intensive shrimp ponds in a subtropical environment. Hydrobiologia, 391, 33–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hibbert, D. B., & Gooding, J. J. (2006). Data analysis for chemistry: an introductory guide for students and laboratory scientists. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmes, R. M., Peterson, B. J., Deegan, L. A., Hughes, J. E., & Fry, B. (2000). Nitrogen biogeochemistry in the oligohaline zone of a New England estuary. Ecology, 81, 416–432.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Islam, S. M., Sarker, J. M., Yamamoto, T., Wahab, A. M., & Tanaka, M. (2004). Water and sediment quality, partial mass budget and effluent N loading in coastal brackishwater shrimp farms in Bangladesh. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 48, 471–485.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, C., Preston, N., Thompson, P. J., & Burford, M. (2003). Nitrogen budget and effluent nitrogen components at an intensive shrimp farm. Aquaculture, 218, 397–411.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, L. E. (2009). Geographic information systems in water resources engineering. Boca Raton: CRC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, A. B., O’Donohue, M. J., Udy, J., & Dennison, W. C. (2001). Assessing ecological impacts of shrimp and sewage effluent: biological indicators with standard water quality analyses. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 52, 91–109.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, H., Gacia, E., Kennedy, D. P., Papadimitriou, S., & Duarte, C. M. (2004). Organic carbon sources to SE Asian coastal sediments. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 60, 59–68.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lau, S. S. S. (2000). The significance of temporal variability in sediment quality for contamination assessment in a coastal wetland. Water Research, 34, 387–394.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lau, S. S. S., & Chu, L. M. (2000). The significance of sediment contamination in a coastal wetland, Hong Kong, China. Water Research, 34, 379–386.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lemonnier, H., & Faninoz, S. (2006). Effect of water exchange on effluent and sediment characteristics and on partial nitrogen budget in semi-intensive shrimp ponds in New Caledonia. Aquaculture Research, 37, 938–948.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, S. M., Zhu, B. D., Zhang, J., Wu, Y., Liu, G. S., Deng, B., et al. (2010). Environmental change in Jiaozhou Bay recorded by nutrient components in sediments. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 60, 1591–1599.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, J. L. M., Veran, Y., Guelorget, O., & Pham, D. (1998). Shrimp rearing: stocking density, growth, impact on sediment, waste output and their relationships studied through the nitrogen budget in rearing ponds. Aquaculture, 164, 135–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McNevin, A. A. 2004. Water quality monitoring of Mahajamba bay, Madagascar. PhD thesis, Auburn University.

  • Nguyen, V. T. 2008. The influences of shrimp farming and fishing practices on natural fish conservation in Can Gio, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. PhD thesis, University of Newcastle.

  • Osei, J., Nyame, F. K., Armah, T. K., Osae, S. K., Dampare, S. B., Fianko, J. R., et al. (2010). Application of multivariate analysis for identification of pollution sources in the Densu delta wetland in the vicinity of a landfill site in Ghana. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 2, 1020–1029.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Páez-Osuna, F. (2001). The environmental impact of shrimp aquaculture: causes, effects, and mitigating alternatives. Environmental Management, 28, 131–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Páez-Osuna, F., & Ruiz-Fernández, A. C. (2005). Environmental load of nitrogen and phosphorus from extensive, semiintensive, and intensive shrimp farms in the Gulf of California ecoregion. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 74, 681–688.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Páez-Osuna, F., Guerrero-Galván, S. R., Ruiz-Fernández, A. C., & Espinoza-Angulo, R. (1997). Fluxes and mass balances of nutrients in a semi-intensive shrimp farm in north-western Mexico. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 34, 290–297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Páez-Osuna, F., Guerrero-Galván, S. R., & Ruiz-Fernández, A. C. (1998). The environmental impact of shrimp aquaculture and the coastal pollution in Mexico. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 36, 65–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Páez-Osuna, F., Gracia, A., Flores-Verdugo, F., Lyle-Fritch, L. P., Alonso-Rodríguez, R., Roque, A., et al. (2003). Shrimp aquaculture development and the environment in the Gulf of California ecoregion. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 46, 806–815.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palma, P., Alvarenga, P., Palma, V., Fernandes, R., Soares, A., & Barbosa, I. (2010). Assessment of anthropogenic sources of water pollution using multivariate statistical techniques: a case study of the Alqueva’s reservoir, Portugal. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 165, 539–552.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pansu, M., & Gautheyrou, J. (2006). Handbook of soil analysis: mineralogical, organic and inorganic methods. New York: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • People’s Committee of Quang Ninh Province. 2011. Quang Ninh Portal [Online]. Ha Long: Quang Ninh Department of Information and Communications. Available: http://www.quangninh.gov.vn/Home.aspx [Accessed 2011].

  • Primpas, I., Tsirtsis, G., Karydis, M., & Kokkoris, G. D. (2010). Principal component analysis: development of a multivariate index for assessing eutrophication according to the European water framework directive. Ecological Indicators, 10, 178–183.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quinn, G. P., & Keough, M. J. (2002). Experimental design and data analysis for biologists. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-Gallego, L., Meerhoff, E., Poersch, L., Aubriot, L., Fagetti, C., Vitancurt, J., et al. (2008). Establishing limits to aquaculture in a protected coastal lagoon: impact of Farfantepenaeus paulensis pens on water quality, sediment and benthic biota. Aquaculture, 277, 30–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Samocha, T. M., & Lawrence, A. L. (1995). Shrimp farms’ effluent waters, environmental impact and potential treatment methods. In B. J. Keller, P. K. Park, J. P. McVey, K. Takayanagi, & K. Hosoya (Eds.), Interactions between cultured species and naturally occurring species in the environment. UJNR Technical Report No. 24, 33-58, Texas A&M University Sea Grant College Program.

  • Samocha, T. M., Lopez, I. M., Jones, E. R., Jackson, S., & Lawrence, A. L. (2004). Characterization of intake and effluent waters from intensive and semi-intensive shrimp farms in Texas. Aquaculture Research, 35, 321–339.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Savage, C., Leavitt, P. R., & Elmgren, R. (2004). Distribution and retention of effluent nitrogen in surface sediments of a coastal bay. Limnology and Oceanography, 49, 1503–1511.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Senarath, U., & Visvanathan, C. (2001). Environmental issues in brackish water shrimp aquaculture in Sri Lanka. Environmental Management, 27, 335–348.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, S. L., Batley, G. E., Chariton, A. A., Stauber, J. L., King, C. K., Chapman, J. C., et al. (2005). Handbooks for sediment quality assessment. Bangor, NSW: CSIRO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2007). Using multivariate statistics. Boston: Pearson Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teichert-Coddington, D. R., Martinez, D., & Ramírez, E. (2000). Partial nutrient budgets for semi-intensive shrimp farms in Honduras. Aquaculture, 190, 139–154.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thakur, D. P., & Lin, C. K. (2003). Water quality and nutrient budget in closed shrimp (Penaeus monodon) culture systems. Aquacultural Engineering, 27, 159–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tookwinas, S. (1998). The environmental impact of marine shrimp farming effluents and carrying capacity estimation at Kung Krabaen bay, Eastern Thailand. Asian Fisheries Science, 11, 303–316.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trott, L. A., & Alongi, D. M. (2000). The impact of shrimp pond effluent on water quality and phytoplankton biomass in a tropical mangrove estuary. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 40, 947–951.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trott, L. A., & Alongi, D. M. (2001). Quantifying and predicting the impact of prawn effluent on the assimilative capacity of coastal waterways; and pond and effluent management. Townsville: Australian Institute of Marine Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trott, L. A., McKinnon, A. D., Alongi, D. M., Davidson, A., & Burford, M. A. (2004). Carbon and nitrogen processes in a mangrove creek receiving shrimp farm effluent. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 59, 197–207.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • UNESCO. 2011. UNESCO World Heritage List [Online]. Available: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list [Accessed 2011].

  • Wang, D., Chen, Z., Xu, S., Da, L., Bi, C., & Wang, J. (2007). Denitrification in tidal flat sediment, Yangtze estuary. Science in China Series B: Chemistry, 50, 812–820.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • White, P. G. 2009. EIA and monitoring for clusters of small-scale cage farms in Bolinao Bay: a case study. In: FAO (Ed.) Environmental impact assessment and monitoring of aquaculture. Rome: FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper 527.

  • Yokoyama, H., Abo, K., & Ishihi, Y. (2006). Quantifying aquaculture-derived organic matter in the sediment in and around a coastal fish farm using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios. Aquaculture, 254, 411–425.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zaz, J. H. (1999). Biostatistical analysis. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, J., Wu, Y., Kang, Q., & Zhang, J. (2007). Spatial variations of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and sulfur in the salt marsh sediments of the Yangtze Estuary in China. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 71, 47–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zuur, A. F., Ieno, E. N., & Smith, G. M. (2007). Analysing ecological data. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Endeavour Awards Program, DEEWR, Australia for an Endeavour Postgraduate Award for the first author. This research was made possible thanks to Charles Darwin University for fieldtrip financial support. Special thanks to the Center for Environment and Disease Monitoring in Aquaculture (CEDMA) at Research Institute for Aquaculture No.1 (RIA.1) and the Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry at Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam, for their assistance in sample analysis. Thanks are given to our colleagues in Vietnam for their assistance during fieldwork.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Center for Environment and Disease Monitoring in Aquaculture, Research Institute for Aquaculture No.1, Tu Son, Bac Ninh, Vietnam

    Thuyet D. Bui

  2. Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT0909, Australia

    Thuyet D. Bui & Stefan W. Maier

  3. School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT0909, Australia

    Jim Luong-Van

  4. School of Science, Monash University, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, 46150, Selangor, Malaysia

    Chris M. Austin

Authors
  1. Thuyet D. Bui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jim Luong-Van
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Stefan W. Maier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chris M. Austin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thuyet D. Bui.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bui, T.D., Luong-Van, J., Maier, S.W. et al. Assessment and monitoring of nutrient loading in the sediments of tidal creeks receiving shrimp farm effluent in Quang Ninh, Vietnam. Environ Monit Assess 185, 8715–8731 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3207-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3207-2

Keywords

  • Shrimp effluent
  • Nutrient
  • Sediment quality
  • Factor analysis
  • GIS