A spatial interpolation approach for environmental assessment of aquaculture effects on water quality of Pagasitikos Gulf (Eastern Mediterranean)

Androniki Dimoudi; Panagiota Karampetsou; Christos Domenikiotis; Lamprini Tziantziou; Dimitris Klaoudatos; Konstantinos Skordas; Panagiota Panagiotaki; Nikos Neofitou

doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106036

A spatial interpolation approach for environmental assessment of aquaculture effects on water quality of Pagasitikos Gulf (Eastern Mediterranean)

Mar Environ Res. 2023 Jun:188:106036. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106036. Epub 2023 May 25.

Authors

Androniki Dimoudi¹, Panagiota Karampetsou², Christos Domenikiotis², Lamprini Tziantziou², Dimitris Klaoudatos², Konstantinos Skordas², Panagiota Panagiotaki², Nikos Neofitou³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece. Electronic address: andimoudi@uth.gr.
² Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece.
³ Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece. Electronic address: nikneof@uth.gr.

PMID: 37257339
DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106036

Abstract

The impact of fish farming on the physicochemical and biological parameters of the water column was investigated between July and October 2021, in Pagasitikos Gulf. For this purpose, a sampling strategy based on Geographical Information System (GIS) was developed and a grid of 28 sampling stations was created for in situ measurements. The method of spatial interpolation and especially the Radial Basis Function (RBF) was used to estimate the spatial distribution of DO, chl α and nutrients by means of GIS. General Linear Model (GLM) analysis showed significant differences for all measured parameters except for NO₃. Nutrients remained at low concentrations without exceeding the permitted limits for eutrophication and welfare of cultivated organisms. GIS exhibited high usefulness for data analysis, with further studies warranted for its optimization on applications related to the environmental impact of fish farming.

Keywords: Eastern Mediterranean; Environmental impact; Eutrophication; Fish farming; GIS; Nutrients.

MeSH terms

Animals
Aquaculture
Environmental Monitoring* / methods
Eutrophication
Fisheries
Spatial Analysis
Water Quality*