TURBIDITY AS AN ECOLOGICAL SOLUTION TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF FISH-EATING COLONIAL WATERBIRDS ON FISH FARMS

Various techniques have been proposed for limiting the impact of fish-eating birds on fish farms. Ecological solutions include those that attempt to reduce the encounter rate of predators with prey of commercial value. One way to reduce a predator's visual detection of prey is to increase pond turbidity. Results are presented from an experiment investigating the decrease in foraging efficiency of fish-eating birds with increased turbidity in a controlled situation. Prey capture rates of Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta) were significantly reduced by turbidity. Although a promising method, managing turbidity might be limited by several factors such as the type of commercial fish raised in farm ponds.