Maintaining optimal water quality is essential for the success of sea cucumber aquaculture. Inadequate water quality can lead to decreased production of cultured species and diminished quality of the final aquaculture product. This fact sheet outlines key ecotoxicology tools and practices for maintaining water quality in sea cucumber aquaculture.
Aquaculture productivity is adversely affected when incoming water contains sufficient contaminants to hinder the development, growth or reproduction of aquatic species, potentially resulting in mortality.
Product quality is compromised when low levels of contaminants, while not immediately causing apparent harm, gradually accumulate in the cultured species, eventually reaching a point where they pose potential health risks to consumers.
It is essential that sea cucumber producers consider water quality risks to both production and product quality as they are interlinked. Mitigating these risks is critical to the success of this emerging industry.