Food safety aspects of common carp produced in wastewater-fed fish ponds

Abstract

There is an increasing trend in the use of wastewater in fish production because wastewater-based aquaculture is a sustainable, biological way to treat and recycle wastewater. Different fish species including common carp have been reared in wastewater-fed ponds. However, untreated wastewater contains many kinds of contaminants that have adverse effects on human health and the environment. Thus, the health risks arising from fish produced in wastewater-filled fish ponds seem undeniable. On the other hand, the appropriate use of wastewater in aquaculture has important environmental and economic significance, including recycling nutrients and reuse of water. The main objective of the present review is verification of rearing fish in purified wastewater-fed fishponds through revision of available data related to fish meat safety. Wastewater could be an excellent source of nutrients for fish, but proper purification of this waste stream is necessary. Fish also have a role as bioindicators of the effectiveness of wastewater purification. Continuous monitoring of the presence and concentration of different contaminants in common carp and other fish species reared in purified wastewater is very important.