GRANT NUMBER:  NA67FD0033           NMFS NUMBER:  95-SER-014

REPORT TITLE:  Use of Constructed Wetlands to Improve Water Quality in Finfish Pond Culture, Phase II

AUTHOR: LaSalle, Mark W.; Posadas, Benedict C.; and Veal, C. David

PUBLISH DATE: October 20, 1998

AVAILABLE FROM:  National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Region, 9721 Executive Center Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33702.  TELEPHONE: (813) 570-5324

ABSTRACT

The project was to assess the effects of constructed wetlands on pond culture of freshwater catfish. The project compared pond water quality, crop survival, incidence of off-taste, and release of nutrient laden effluent to the environment between ponds without and ponds with re-circulated water from constructed wetlands.  Vegetation in the constructed wetland consisted of Sagittaria lancifolia (duck potato).   Several sizes of wetlands and flow rates into the wetlands were tested. The project also examined the costs associated with both types of pond operation.  Ponds with constructed wetlands had lower pH, total ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, phosphorous, and total suspended solids than ponds without wetlands.  However, this did not result in higher survivability, faster or larger growth, or less off-flavor of the catfish.   Based upon these results, it is not economically feasible to use constructed wetland vegetated by Sagittaria lancifolia for catfish pond culture.