Publication: Phosphorus leakage from fisheries sector – A case study in Thailand
Issued Date
2016-12-01
Resource Type
ISSN
18736424
02697491
02697491
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-84992150908
Rights
Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Environmental Pollution. Vol.219, (2016), 967-975
Suggested Citation
Nuchnapa Prathumchai, Chongchin Polprasert, Andrew J. Englande Phosphorus leakage from fisheries sector – A case study in Thailand. Environmental Pollution. Vol.219, (2016), 967-975. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2016.09.081 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/40617
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Title
Phosphorus leakage from fisheries sector – A case study in Thailand
Abstract
© 2016 Elsevier Ltd Although phosphorus (P) is an essential element needed for all lives, excess P can be harmful to the environment. The objective of this study aims to determine P flows in the fisheries sector of Thailand consisting of both sea and freshwater activities of captures and cultures. Currently, the annual fisheries catch averages 3.44 ± 0.50 Mt. Most comes from marine capture 1.95 ± 0.46 Mt, followed by coastal aquaculture 0.78 ± 0.09 Mt, freshwater aquaculture 0.49 ± 0.05 Mt, and inland capture 0.22 ± 0.01 Mt. Of this total, about 11% is contained in fresh products directly sold in local markets for consumption, while 89% is sent to processing factories prior to being sold in local markets and exported. The quantities of P entering the fisheries sector come from captures, import of fisheries products and feed produced from agriculture. This P input to the fisheries sector is found to average 28,506 t P.y−1 based on the past ten-year records. Of this total, P input from captures accounts for 76%; while, 11% represents aquatic feeds from agriculture and animal manures. About 13% is obtained from the imports of fishery products. Coastal and freshwater aquacultures are found to be P consumers because their feeds are almost all produced from agricultural crops grown inland. Moreover, these activities cause most of P losses, approximately 10,188 t P·y−1, which account for 89% of the total P loss from the fisheries sector. Overall, P in the fisheries sector is found to mobilize through three channels: (a) 44% is consumed within the country; (b) about 16% is exported; and, (c) 40% is lost from the ecosystem. Based on the results of this work it is recommended that future research be directed on ways to minimize P loss and maximize P recycle in Thailand's fisheries sector as to enhance its food security and curtail water pollution.