Nutrient budget of a marine fish pond in Eilat, Israel

Monthly budgets for nitrogen and phosphorus for a marine fish pond in Eilat were determined for the period September 1983 to June 1984. The ponds are operated as a semi-open system, 41% of the pond water being replaced each day by water from a nearby seawater well. Only 29% of the phosphorus and 36% of the nitrogen are incorporated into harvestable fish flesh (Sparus aurata or Mugil sp.). The remainder reaches the pond as uneaten food, fish faeces or excreted matter, and it is then available to support high levels of phytoplankton and heterotrophic activity. The total input of nutrients supplied to the ponds showed a seasonal trend, with the lowest amount being supplied at the beginning of the sampling period (October) (5.2 moles N/day, 0.25 moles P/day), and increasing in June to 10.6 moles N/day, 0.57 moles P/day. All the increase was due to the amount of food fed. A large proportion (70-80%) of the excess nutrients was exported from the system as dissolved or particulate matter in the overflow. Because of this the water quality of the ponds has remained at levels which have enabled 6.5-12 tons fish/ha to be cultured without regular drying of the ponds. Oysters have been grown on the plankton carried out with the overflow. The ponds have a surplus of nutrient inflow in October/November (1.9 moles N/day, 0.06 moles P/day), a small deficit of N (0.4 moles/day), and surplus of P (0.01 moles/day) in spring, and a large surplus again in May and June of 1.3 moles N/day, 0.11 moles P/day. In all, 60-120% of the nutrient inputs are directly accounted for.