Aquaculture Engineering (2+1)

Site selection for Brackish water fish farms - Existence and density of mangrove vegetation

Unit 8 - Brackish and marine water fish farms

Site selection for Brackish water fish farms

Existence and density of mangrove vegetation

Mangroves are the group of flowering halophytic shrubs and trees growing up to 30 m of height, belonging to several unrelated families occurring around sheltered tropical shores. Mangroves occur along protected sedimentary shores, particularly in the tidal lagoons, embayment’s and estuaries. Capable of tolerating full saline conditions, mangroves are never totally isolated from sea, though they may grow far inland. However the dense ever green growth of mangroves shelters a large number of terrestrial animals, while their complex root system, together with the thick silty sediments in which they grow, harbour a variety of marine invertebrates. Filamentous algae are abundant on the sub stratum as well, and utilize the fine sediments while the leafy algae directly attach to the mangrove roots. In addition, numerous fish and crustaceans move in and out of the mangrove vegetation with the tidal flow.