Cage culture of seven fish species in a power plant effluent characterized by wide salinity fluctuations. 8. Annu. Meet. World Mariculture Society; San Jose (Costa Rica); 9 Jan 1977
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Seven fish species, including freshwater, estuarine, and marine species, were cultured in floating cages between 22 July 1973 and 18 August 1975 in intake waters and at five stations in the cooling lake of an upper Galveston Bay, Texas, power plant. Cooling water was characterized by acute salinity fluctuations which adversely affected growth and survival of all species. Black drum was the only species which exhibited growth suitable for commercial production. However, black drum could not adapt to prolonged low salinities and suffered complete mortality. Striped mullet, stocked in the lake, survived the entire 2-year culture period, but growth rates were low. Pinfish and Florida pompano grew slowly and succumbed to low salinities while sea catfish and Atlantic spadefish could not tolerate low temperatures nor prolonged low salinity. Death of channel catfish occurred after conductivity levels increased above 20 millimhos/cm