Best Management Practices for Flow-Through Aquaculture

Implementing aquaculture water quality management activities allows downs downstream users to enjoy swimming, boating, and fishing in healthy waters full of thriving aquatic life.

Best management practices at storage facilities and hatcheries include:

• Prompt Cleanup
  • Material Storage: Prompt cleanup of leaks and spills prevents pollutants from entering the receiving water.
• Training Staff
  • Training: Training staff on proper spill prevention, operation, and cleaning procedures prepares them to prevent and respond to accidental discharges and spills, operate the system efficiently, and reduce discharges of solids and nutrients.
• Reporting
  • General Reporting Requirements: Reporting the use of certain drugs and the occurrence of unanticipated discharges makes permitting authorities aware of such discharges.
• Best Management Plans (BMPs)
  • General Reporting Requirements: BMPs ensure that producers have procedures in place to control discharges of pollutants from the facility. Annual updates ensure the plans account for facility changes and new or innovative BMPs.
• Maintaining Records
  • Recordkeeping: Maintaining records on feeding, number and weight of aquatic animals, cleaning, inspections, maintenance, and repairs provides documentation that the operator has implemented required management activities.
• Regular Maintenance
  • Structural Maintenance: Regular maintenance keeps facilities functioning properly to maintain efficiency and prevent unintended discharges.
• Proper Storage
  • Material Storage: Proper storage of feed, drugs, chemicals, and pesticides reduces chances of leaks and spills.
• Efficient Feed Management
  • Solids Control: Efficient feed management helps control discharges of solids and nutrients.
• Removal and Disposal
  • Solids Control: Removal and disposal of animal mortalities and wastes keeps them out of the receiving water.
• Routine Cleaning
  • Solids Control: Routine cleaning of rearing units and settling basins minimizes discharge of accumulated solids.
• Routine Inspections
  • Structural Maintenance: Routine inspections by facility staff help identify damage and necessary repairs.
• Source Water Monitoring
  • Other Water Quality Management Activities: Source water monitoring provides information on levels of pollutants in the intake water. Some permits require source water monitoring, particularly where intake credits or net limits are allowed.
• Proper Application
  • Other Water Quality Management Activities: Proper application of drugs and chemicals prevents them from entering the receiving water.
• Effluent Monitoring
  • Other Water Quality Management Activities: Effluent monitoring helps assess pollutant levels and verify compliance with NPDES permit conditions.
• Proper Siting
  • Other Water Quality Management Activities: Properly siting production system and discharge points prevents adverse environmental impacts (e.g., to endangered or threatened species and their critical habitat and historical sites) and other use conflicts (e.g., water use, navigation, or other local or state requirements).