Article

Heavy metal concentrations and sediment quality of a cage farm on Lake Volta, Ghana

Details

Citation

Karikari AY, Asmah R, Anku WW, Amisah S, Agbo NW, Telfer TC & Ross LG (2020) Heavy metal concentrations and sediment quality of a cage farm on Lake Volta, Ghana. Aquaculture Research, 51 (5), pp. 2041-2051. https://doi.org/10.1111/are.14555

Abstract
This study involved the determination of sediment quality and heavy metals in the water column and bottom sediment of a selected cage fish farm in Lake Volta, to assess the potential impact of metals and organic matter pollution on the lake due to cage fish farming. Sediment analysis indicated that the texture of all sampling sites was sandy clay loam with sand dominating with a range of 31.5%–81.2%. The organic matter (TOM) ranged from 4.42%–8.89%, while organic carbon (TOC) was from 2.57%–5.22%. Total nitrogen (TN) fluctuated between 0.22% and 0.45%; total phosphate ranged between 0.22% and 5.30%. The TOC, TOM and TN content in the farm sediment were significantly lower than those of the reference sites (ANOVA, p < .05). Lead, copper, cadmium and selenium were not detected in the water. The results revealed that heavy metal concentrations in the water column and sediments were low and within tolerable levels, indicating no influence of metals from fish feed was observed on the lake water quality. However, the farm seemed to have moderate impact on sediment quality from organic matter. Water and sediment quality monitoring should be embarked upon periodically to ensure sustainable cage culture in the Lake Volta.

Keywords
cage fish farming; heavy metals; lake sediment; Lake Volta; organic matter

Journal
Aquaculture Research: Volume 51, Issue 5

StatusPublished
FundersRoyal Society Africa Leverhulme award
Publication date31/05/2020
Publication date online17/02/2020
Date accepted by journal23/01/2020
URLhttp://hdl.handle.net/1893/30855
PublisherWiley
ISSN1355-557X
eISSN1365-2109

People (2)

People

Professor Lindsay Ross

Professor Lindsay Ross

Emeritus Professor, Institute of Aquaculture

Professor Trevor Telfer

Professor Trevor Telfer

Professor, Institute of Aquaculture

Research centres/groups