Environment Impact Assessment of tilapia farming in suitable areas of Yazd province

Abstract

The aim of the present study is the environmental impact assessment of tilapia (Tilapia nilotica) farming in suitable areas of Yazd province. This research was conducted to achieve appropriate use of these resource, employment and development of central less developed regions of Iran along with identifying the human and ecological effects of its implementation in order to minimize environmental impacts as well as economic and social justification. Total area of about 100 ha at 6 farms in selective areas include Tabas (central region), Ardakan (Chahafzal), Mheriz (Bahadoran), Bahabad (Central Region),Taft (Chahbeygi-Dehshir) and Khatam (Tanoore-Lahoor) was assessed in order to tilapia farming and aquaculture industry development. So, impact assessment of this project development in environmental and social - economic parts was considered and Matrix method was utilized for the environmental impact assessment. Based on investigation, accessibility of the region, compatibility with the other land uses, lack of monuments in the area, not covered with the sensitive habitats range, the lack of permanent river flow, low quality of underground water and end up underground water flows in downstream desert and evaporated which result in impossibility of escaping introduced fish from the farm and the use of existing spaces in the first half of the year to product lead to make fewer infrastructure costs and increase revenue, are the main criteria for the sustainable development of this species culture in the area. Considering the executed studies and results of operation phase matrix, it was concluded that there is no considerable destructive impacts related to the project. Therefore due to the fact that 50% of means in rows and columns of the matrix were not less than -3.1 so, we proposed execution of it with rehabilitation plans. Therefore, some strategies and plans to consider reducing the negative effects and enhance positive effects of the project, including monitoring programs, were proposed.