Arkansas is the leading producer of bait fish in the United States. Arkansas baitfish farmers in recent years have reported increasing problems related to blue-green algae. Blue-green algae blooms , such as Microcystis species, can have deleterious effects o n baitfish production including odors, toxins , reduction of seining efficiency, and fish mortality. Attempts to control blue green algae populations have become of paramount importance for the baitfish industry , and management strategies include the use of chemicals such as copper sulfate, copper chelates, potassium permanganate, among others.
In order to assess the efficacy of different management strategies employed by commercial baitfish farms in Arkansas, m onitoring of microalgae populations and water quality were performed during early Spring through late Fall 2019 on a commercial farm in Lonoke County, Arkansas . Six commercial baitfish production ponds (4.0-7.1 hectares) were monitored by Extension personnel on a weekly basis. Water quality parameters that were measured for each pond included temperature, pH, total ammonia nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen , nitrate, and phosphorous. Microalgae counts were performed via microscopic examination. The impact of different management strategies and treatment regimens employed by the cooperating farm on pond water quality and microalgae will be presented.