Spatio-temporal distribution and source analysis of nutrients and antibiotics in the waters of a mariculture area in Haizhou Bay, Yellow Sea

Abstract

Due to the continuous expansion of China's urban areas, there has been a growing trend of discharging marine aquaculture tail water directly into the sea. This phenomenon has had a significant impact on the marine ecological environment.To determine the status of pollutant discharge from marine aquaculture tailwater and facilitate its treatment.This paper analyses the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of nutrients and antibiotics in the pond culture mode of Penaeus monodon. The influent, tail water, and adjacent seawater of the aquaculture concentration area in the port industrial zone of Guanyun County, Lianyungang City were monitored. The study aims to explore potential correlations between the variables.The data indicates that nitrogen and phosphorus are the primary pollutants in the Lianyungang aquaculture sea area. In 2022, the average total nitrogen content was 104.475 mg/L, and the average total phosphorus content was 3.83 mg/L.Sulfanilamide and norethindrone antibiotics were found in the culture tailings. The residual content of sulfonamide antibiotics ranged from 0.6 to 33.4 ng/L, while the residual content of norethindrone antibiotics ranged from 0.15 to 1.0 ng/L.This paper analyses the monitoring data statistically to provide basic support for the protection of the marine ecological environment in Haizhou Bay. Additionally, to enhance the environmental management of China's coastal waters, it is necessary to formulate an environmental management policy for coastal waters and provide a scientific basis for the implementation of the total amount of pollutants discharged into the sea.