Quantifying aquaculture’s effect on nutrient flux at the sediment-water interface in the Damariscotta estuary in Maine The importance of developing a sustainable aquaculture industry has been realized in the state of Maine. An extensive, interdisciplinary EPSCoR-funded project by the name of SEANET (Sustainable Ecological Aquaculture Network) is spearheading research on aquaculture from all fronts to reduce the rising pressure placed on wild marine species by the demands of a growing global population. The work presented here involves the determination of the rate at which organic biodeposits resulting from bivalve aquaculture operations can safely be added to the underlying sediment, establishing the carrying capacity of the sediment with respect to aquaculture practice. We have designed flux chambers that hold intact sediment cores immersed in seawater, mimicking environmental conditions for the study of nutrient cycling and flux at the sediment-water interface. Three major hypotheses are tested: (1) biodeposits high in carbon and nitrogen content increase nutrient flux to the water column; (2) fine-grained sediments contain more organic matter and support lower mineralization rates of biodeposits than coarse-grained sediments; and (3) polychaetes lower the efflux of nutrients from the sediment. The Damariscotta estuary has been identified as a critical site to understand due to its suitability for aquaculture. The extrapolation of our data will help future aquaculturists and policy makers to make informed decisions.

Faculty Mentor: Aria Amirbahman