Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2010, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (1): 8-14.doi: 10.11978/j.issn.1009-5470.2010.01.008cstr: 32234.14.j.issn.1009-5470.2010.01.008

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Review of eco-development model for mangrove land-based enclosure aquaculture in the Pearl River Estuary

ZHANG Qiao-min, SHI Qi, YU Ke-fu   

  1. CAS Key Laboratory of Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, CAS, Guangzhou 510301, China
  • Received:2008-12-25 Revised:2009-02-01 Online:2010-01-15 Published:2001-01-08

Abstract:

The traditional mangrove land-based enclosure aquaculture model originated in the Pearl River Delta is a good example showing how mangroves can be used sustainably. This paper introduces three examples of mangrove land-based enclosure aquaculture at the mouth of the Pearl River Estuary. The first example is about the only operating traditional mangrove land-based enclosure for shrimp farming located in Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve of Hong Kong and managed by WWF Hong Kong; its history goes back to the mid-1940s and its focus for management strategy has evolved from being commercial culture ponds to performance of multi-ecological functions including feeding habitat for piscivorous water birds, bird-watching, environmental education, as well as shrimp farming. The second example is the mangrove land-based enclosure for traditionally extensive aquaculture trial in the Dawei Bay on the Qi’ao Island of Zhuhai City, regarding measurement and analyses of relationship between the environmental condition change of water level and salinity and the mangrove community dynamics inside land-based enclosure. The third example is the mangrove planting-aquaculture system trial in the Shenzhen Waterlands Resort on the east coast of the Lingdingyang Estuary, including research on water purification function by mangroves. For mangrove protection and management and for marine pollution prevention in the Pearl River Estuary waters, the following suggestions are given: 1) Preventing resolutely the development model of clearing mangrove for aquaculture ponds, and disseminating and applying the eco-development model of land-based enclosure aquaculture or mangrove-friendly aquaculture; 2) Building new land-based enclosure aquaculture demonstration site in major mangrove regions, and exploring mangrove-friendly restoration model in aquaculture pond areas built by clearing mangroves; 3) strengthening relevant scientific research for maximizing comprehensive efficiency of mangrove land-based enclosure aquaculture.

Key words: mangrove, eco-development, land-based enclosure aquaculture, mangrove planting aquaculture system, Pearl River Estuary