Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Aquaculture & Fisheries

Since typical water treatment processes are ineffective at removing toxic microcystins, techniques for eliminating microcystin-producing algae in water bodies have been developed. The most promising microcystin control in aquaculture is flocculation and sedimentation of harmful algal blooms with clay. In a study with tilapia in a eutrophic fish pond, the authors found that polymeric aluminum chloride-modified clay had a faster and slightly stronger effect in removing M. aeruginosa than a more environmentally friendly chitosan-modified clay.