Monitoring of Environmental Impacts of Marine Aquaculture.

Marine aquaculture is regulated and monitored through international and national legislation that varies significantly between countries and regions around the world. Research is still needed to improve the monitoring programmes, in particular those related to the ecosystem approach at larger scales. Most monitoring programmes include examination of the benthic environment and some also of water quality, although impacts are difficult to detect due to rapid dilution. In the Mediterranean benthic monitoring may include use of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica, as this species is widespread and highly sensitive to aquaculture waste products. This chapter provides details of two monitoring programmes: (1) salmon farming in Norway and (2) sea bream/sea bass and tuna farming in Malta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]