World Applied Sciences Journal 18 (6): 855-860, 2012 ISSN 1818-4952 © IDOSI Publications, 2012 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wasj.2012.18.06.1227 Corresponding Author: Dr. Teck-Yee Ling, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia. 855 Water and Sediment Quality Near Shrimp Aquaculture Farm in Selang Sibu River, Telaga Air, Sarawak, Malaysia Teck-Yee Ling, Nuraminah Jaafar and Lee Nyanti 1 1 2 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, 1 Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia Department of Aquatic Science, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, 2 Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia Abstract: Shrimp farms are commonly located in the estuaries where it supplies the brackish water needed. World-wide, there have been reports of environmental degradation due to loadings of pollutants from shrimp farms. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the water and sediment quality near a shrimp farm discharge area. Water and sediment samples were collected at six stations near the discharge. Results of the study show that temperature ranged from 29.2-31.2°C and mean salinity ranged from 19-22 PSU. Water transparency was significantly lower and ammonia-nitrogen was significantly higher near the shrimp farm discharge station when compared to all the other stations. When there was discharge, water transparency was lower and ammonia-nitrogen was higher at all stations along the 3 km distance. In the sediment, total organic carbon ranged from 3.17-4.79% and total nitrogen of the stations ranged from 458.7 to 543.9 mg/kg. Total organic carbon, total nitrogen and total phosphorus of sediment at stations within 1.5 km of the shrimp farm discharge point were significantly higher than stations beyond that indicating that the impact of shrimp discharge on the sediment appears to be within 1.5 km from the discharge point. Key words: Sibu Laut River Sediment quality Nutrients Aquaculture INTRODUCTION occurrence of shrimp disease has been linked to the Aquaculture is predicted to overtake capture fisheries farms [3]. as a source of aquatic food as global production from In Sarawak, one of the estuaries where shrimp farms capture fisheries has leveled off and therefore unlikely to are located is the Sibu Laut Estuary. It is a tidal river be able to meet the demand for aquatic food [1]. Shrimp located about 25 km to the north-west of Kuching City aquaculture provides one of the aquatic products that are and it also forms the western boundary of the Kuching in high demand. In Malaysia, cultured shrimp are not only Wetlands National Park (KWNP). The economic an important source of revenue but also an important importance of KWNP is valued at about US$25 million per source of protein for local populations. Shrimp farms are annum from marine fisheries, timber products and tourist located in the estuaries where it supplies the brackish industry [4] and eco-tourism industry based on wildlife water needed and it also receives the discharge of the alone contributed RM6 million per annum [5]. The pond effluent during harvesting. World-wide, there have ecological importance of mangrove includes being an area been reports of environmental degradation due to for feeding, breeding, nursery and shelter for many loadings of pollutants from shrimp farms. These include species of aquatic life. Previous studies of fish diversity eutrophication due to the discharge of high nutrient pond in a similar estuary forming the eastern boundary of the water during pond harvesting which has an impact on the Kuching Wetlands National Park showed that most of the aquatic organisms and thus fisheries [2]. In addition, the individuals of fish caught from the area were small-sized enriched estuarine water due to the loading from shrimp