Investigation the effects of sea cage culture of Lates calcarifer (Bloch) on the population structure of macrobenthos in the coastal waters of Qeshm Island, Hormozgan Province

This study was conducted to investigate the possible effects of cages culture Asian sea bass fish (Lates calcarifer) on the population structure of macrobenthos in the Rigo area of Qeshm Island in Hormozgan province during a breeding period in 1397 were investigated. The average abundance of macrobenthos at the location of the cages culture and the refrences site in this study was equal to (52765 ± 19154 in m2) and (50642 ± 21002 in m2), respectively.The results showed that at the time of the study among the identified the genus of Ammonia sp. With a relative abundance of 73.41 percent at the location of the cages compared to the control station and Archasterope sp., Spirolochulina sp. and Nephtys sp. with a relative abundance of 63.9%, 49.1% and 12.6%, respectively, were more dominant in the control station compared to the location of the cages.The loading rate of organic matter in the bed of the cages was significantly affected by fish farming activities and in some times showed a significant difference with the control station (P<0.05). In general, at the time of the study, activities related to fish farming in cages had no effect on the population structure of macrobenthos in the study area.