Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
2008, Vol 8, Num, 1 (Pages: 71-77)
Water Quality Assessment of Aquaculture Ponds Located in Bhitarkanika Mangrove Ecosystem, Orissa, India
Rashmi Ranjan Mishra 1 ,Biswajit Rath 1 ,Hrudayanthnath Thatoi 1
1 North Orissa University, Department of Biotechnology, Baripada-757003, Orissa, India
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Mangrove ecosystem being suitable for brackish water shrimp culture, large number of aquaculture ponds have been
developed in the periphery of Bhitarkanika National Park area of Orissa, India. These ponds are regularly fed by brackish
water from nearby Brahmani-Baitarani river system and the same water is ultimately discharged into the mangrove
ecosystem. In the present study, some physico-chemical parameters such as pH, temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen,
calcium, magnesium, total hardness, chlorine, phosphate, nitrate, and total dissolved solid contents of seven aquaculture
ponds have been analysed for assessment of pollution status with respect to river water taken as control. Studies were
undertaken for a period of six months from November 2005 to April 2006 during which the physico-chemical parameters
were compared with the water quality standard of Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) and Central and the State Pollution
Control Board (PCB). pH values of the aquaculture ponds range between 5.63-8.5 as against the value of standard water
quality i.e.6.5-8.5. Nitrate, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, phosphate, and chlorine contents show variation within
different sites. Dissolved oxygen values vary from 3.0 to 8.3 mg/L during six months of investigation. Some of the sites show
higher dissolved oxygen values than the permissible limits (4.0-5.0 mg/L) prescribed by PCB and BIS indicating that these
waters do not pose any threat to aquatic life. The study indicates that the aquaculture pond water at present do not possess
any pollution problem for the mangrove ecosystem.
Keywords :
dissolved oxygen, nitrate, physico-chemical, saline water, pollution