Ecological potential evaluation of cold-water fish culture for reducing the environmental impact: Case study, Hamedan province, west of Iran

Abstract

Background: Nowadays, the growing population has increased the demand for food especially for protein triggering the aquaculture industry's expansion. However, unplanned and unregulated farm will caused be at the subsequent yield failure and cost of environmental stress in the aquaculture farm. Accordingly, ecological potential evaluation and site selection of suitable areas for establishment of aquaculture farms can be prevent the interference of different land uses, minimize the environmental impact of aquaculture development and prevent disruptions in development. Therefore, the currentstudy was conducted to ecological potential evaluation of rainbow trout (Onchorynchus mykiss (culture as coldwater fish species in Hamedan province, west of Iran. Methods: In the current study, biological requisites of rainbow trout, socioeconomic factors, springs information, water flow, water temperature, pH, slope, protected areas and antiquities were used for ecological potential evaluation and site selection of suitable sites for rainbow trout culture. In so doing, 'Makhdoum Aquaculture Model' and ArcGIS 10.3 were used. Results: Based on the results obtained, 1420 ha of Nahavand county, 571 ha of Razan county, 472 ha of Bahar county, 311 ha of Hamedan county, 263 ha of Malayer county, 145 ha of Toyserkan county, 121 ha of Asadabad county and 84.0 ha of Kabudarahang county were identified as the suitable areas for establishment of rainbow trout culture farms. Conclusion: Ecological potential evaluation and site selection for aquaculture by considering the land suitability could be taking to sustainable development and reduce of environmental stress of the aquaculture farm.

Keywords

• environmental stress
• ecological potential evaluation
• site selection
• geographic information system
• aquaculture