Characteristics and status of water quality in coastal waters after six years of intensive whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) culture
Admi Athirah and Akhmad Mustafa

Research Institute for Coastal Aquaculture and Fisheries Extension

Abstract

This research aims to determine changes in water quality characteristics and status in 2015 and 2021. A total of 12 transects perpendicular to the coastline and 3 transects parallel to the coastline, or as many as 36 station points, were determined to measure and to take sample water in coastal waters of intensive technology whiteleg shrimp ponds in Gantarang Subdistrict, Bulukumba Regency, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. Water quality measurements and sampling were carried out in the rainy season in 2015 and 2021. Non-parametric statistics, namely the Mann-Whitney test, were used to determine the difference between each water quality variable at different times. Water quality status was determined using the Storet (Storage and Retrieval) method. The results showed that intensive technology of whiteleg shrimp culture in Gantarang Subdistrict, Bulukumba Regency in 2021 was carried out with a stocking density of 110 ind/m2 to 220 ind/m2 with productivity between 13.9 tons/ha/cycle up to 30.0 tons/ha/cycle with a predicted waste load of 27.68 tons N/year and 6.53 tons P/year. From 2015 to 2021 there was an increase in salinity, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, total suspended solids, and total organic matter and conversely, there was a decrease in temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen. The status of water quality in the coastal waters of Gantarang Subdistrict, which receives the load of intensive technology whiteleg shrimp pond waste, is classified as Class A or Very good or Complying with quality standards, both measurements in 2015 and after six years, namely in 2021. It is necessary to increase the capacity and capability of the WWTP plots for ponds intensive technology of whiteleg shrimp culture in Gantarang Subdistrict and regularly monitor water quality characteristics and status in coastal waters.

Keywords: brackishwater aquaculture, intensive technology, water quality, whiteleg shrimp, Indonesia

Topic: Sustainable Aquaculture (International)