Description

Abstract: A long-term water quality monitoring project in estuaries of the shrimp producing regions of Honduras was initiated in 1993 as part of the Honduras Pond Dynamics/Aquaculture Collaborative Research Support Program. This project is a collaborative effort of universities, the private sector and the public sector. A technical cooperation agreement that describes specific responsibilities of each participant was signed by all participants. The Goal this agreement is to provide a scientific basis for estuarine management and sustainable development of shrimp culture in Honduras. Specific Objectives, design and implementation of the project are described. Currently, water quality is monitored every one to two weeks at 19 sites on 12 estuaries. This project has generated the only known long-term data base on the impact of shrimp farming on estuarine water quality. Project results to date indicate no long-term trend in eutrophication in either riverine or embayment estuaries during the period 1993-1997. Nutrient concentrations in riverine estuaries follow a cyclical trend controlled by season; higher nutrient concentrations are observed during the dry season. Factors contributing to project success are discussed.