TOXICITY OF WASTEWATER FROM FISHMEALS PRODUCTION AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON COASTAL WATERS

Wastewaters from the fishmeal industry that are discharged without treatment into the sea induce loss of ecological functions and ecosystem services in coastal waters. The objective of this study was to assess the toxicity of wastewater generated by the fishmeal industry, as well as the receiving coastal ecosystem of the Gulf of California. The samples of water were gathered in both summer and autumn in four sites of wastewater discharges, and three sites of the receiving coastal body (El Paraje cove). Microtox (R) bioassay was used to evaluate toxicity. The results showed that wastewaters from the fishmeal industry have high toxicity and the coastal body water has zones with moderate toxicity and zones without toxicity. These results indicate the importance of having effective treatment of these types of discharges before they are poured into the sea in order to avoid deterioration of coastal ecosystems.