Site Selection for Marine Aquaculture Using Hydrodynamic Simulation

— The Delft3D Flow model was applied to simulation of the hydrodynamic regime of Voevoda Bay (the southern Primorye, Russky Island, Peter the Great Bay, Russia). The streamflow and distributed inflow from the territories adjacent to the bay was simulated using the SWAT hydrological model. The simulation results were compared with published recommendations on the technology of the off-bottom and bottom culture of the Pacific oyster ( Crassostrea gigas ) and yesso scallop ( Mizuhopecten yessoensis ) and with the distribution of benthic organisms in the bay. The lines of equal probability exceedance of optimal environment conditions for bivalves were used to identify the culture zones and boundaries: for bottom culture, in the near-bottom water layer, for off-bottom culture, in the middle water layer. Zones of bottom culture were limited by 1-m isobaths, for off-bottom culture, by 5-m isobaths. The areas optimal for marine aquaculture were outlined.