The Role of Environmental Impact Assessment in Aquaculture (Case Study: Application of Mathematical Matrices to Assessment of Sturgeon Farming Project in the Golestan Province Coastal Area)

The present study aimed to investigate the role of environmental assessment in the development of aquaculture. For this purpose, the project for the construction of sturgeon farming in the coastal zone of Golestan Province was investigated. In this study, we evaluated three predetermined sites for sturgeon farming using mathematical matrices method. In this way, a matrix is composed of environmental factors affected by the project as well as project activities. Then based on the existing maps and also with the help of GIS, the information of each factor was numerically obtained and based on them we determined the characteristics of the impacts. Based on the results, among the three options, option 1 (located in the vicinity of the Gomishan shrimp breeding center) had the least harmful effect on the environment and was introduced as the most suitable option for the construction of the farm Sturgeon farming on the coast of Golestan Province. The reasons for choosing this place as the best place are the lower odour pollution, lower soil erosion, greater distance to the rivers and less need for excavation. Undoubtedly, adopting environmental impact assessment regulations in many countries and applying them to aquaculture has increased awareness of environmental issues related to aquaculture and this will lead to better environmental management.