THE APPLICATION OF SIMPLE-MODELS OF NUTRIENT LOADING AND OXYGEN-DEMAND TO THE MANAGEMENT OF A MARINE TIDAL INLET

Human developments in the Letang, a macrotidal inlet of the Bay of Fun dy, include salmon aquaculture, traditional fisheries, fish processing plants, a pulp mill, and a municipal sewage treatment plant. All of t hese are sources of nutrients and oxygen demand, Inputs from these sou rces are evaluated, and simple models are used to compare environmenta l effects as well as to assess changes in use patterns or possible fut ure growth. Wastes from salmon aquaculture and fish processing are the dominant anthropogenic inputs to the Letang, Recent improvements in e quipment and operations at the pulp mill as well as one fish plant hav e lessened their environmental impact, Anticipated expansion of the aq uaculture industry would increase nutrient enrichment and oxygen deman d in the local environment, The combination of input evaluation and si mple models can provide a holistic management tool for coastal environ ments with competing multiple uses.