Kraft mill effluent and the Pacific oyster ...

• Main Author: Pedlow, Jane C.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2010
• Subjects: Crassostrea gigas; Pacific oyster
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0099883; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0099883

Studies were undertaken to determine the effect of Kraft mill effluent (KME) on a representative species of the aquatic environment. By transplanting a population of Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) to the Port Mellon area (the site of a Kraft mill), the effect of varying concentrations (on a distance from the mill basis) of the pulp mill waste was monitored in terms of changes in shell dimension, body mass (meat) weight, visual observation of the oysters' physiological state and oyster mortality. A seasonal hydrographic survey was conducted at three regions within the study area to monitor changes in water quality imposed by the effluent. In the areas of effluent imposition (oyster stations 1, 2 and 3) the oysters decreased or showed little gain in shell dimension. The body mass of those oysters nearest the mill outfall began to decline (on a weight basis) shortly after placement. At Station 2 and 3 the deterioration in body mass due to changes in water quality began a short time after the decline at ...