Although most water treatment methods used in intensive or recirculating aquaculture systems
result in a relocation of nutrients and organic matter and not in an overall reduction in discharges,
this relocation makes it possible to reduce potential environmental impacts by facilitating effluent
treatment. For example, solids removal operations produce a stream with high concentration of solids
(the sludge removed from the flow) that is also rich in nutrients and organic matter, while reducing
the concentrations of these parameters in the culture water. The stream with a high concentration of
solids could be treated prior to disposal using techniques appropriate for high strength wastes and
sludge