Does aquaculture and ballast discharge influence the scope of Harmful Algal Blooms?
Jinhui Wang1,2,3, Zhuyou Ma1,2, Yun Li3 and Hongying Qian3
1Ningde Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, SOA, Ningde, PR China
E-mail: wangjinhui@eastsea.gov.cn
2Key Laboratory of Integrated Monitoring and Applied Technology for Marine Harmful Algal Blooms, SOA,
Shanghai, PR China
3College of Marine Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, PR China
What causes the difference of the biogeography and abundance of harmful algal bloom in
different areas of China sea? The species composition of phytoplankton blooms has shifted in
last decades from Skeletonema costatum and Noctiluca scintillans to Karenia mikimotoi and
Prorocentrum dentatum, changes in the biogeography of harmful dinoflagellates and
raphidophytes have been detected along the Chinese coast. One non-indigenous species, Spartina
alterniflora, introduced intentionally for erosion control and marsh reclamation, may slow the
eutrophication of certain areas. As one of the most developed areas in China, the coast of East
China sea has experienced continuous change associated with fast urbanization and other human
activities such as marine aquaculture, port development, etc. Some possible effects resulting
from these changes include adjustment of nutrient abundance and structure, and increases the
source of algae to the region. In this paper, the variability in bloom records are analyzed with the
scope of marine aquaculture, the spread of Spartina alterniflora introduced intentionally for
reclamation in wetland, and ballast discharge.