Ecotoxicological evaluation in aquaculture in state park Serra do Mar-SP, Nucleo Itariru

DOI: 10.15343/0104-7809.20143801098104

Abstract

The Center for Research and Production of Native Fishes of Peruíbe is installed within the Itariru core, Parque Estadual da
Serra do Mar. This study aimed to evaluate possible risks of environmental pollution due to the production of fry of native
species Deuterodon iguape, by means of ecotoxicological assays. Eleven water samples were collected, considering nurseries,
water harvesting, river downstream and egg’s incubator. Acute toxicity was assessed using tests with Daphnia similis,
following ABNT NBR 12713/2005 protocol, and the results were analyzed by Student’s t’test. Toxicity was detected only in
the first two sectors from the farming system, suggesting the release of contaminants upstream, which were confirmed after
interviews with local producers. However, farming tanks appeared to function as biological filters, due to the occurrence
of physical, chemical and biological (microbial degradation) processes, producing non toxic effluents. We concluded that
this fish farm do not represent a source of contamination. Moreover, toxicity tests seem to constitute a tool to evaluate
environmental quality in aquaculture.