Ali Fakhri

The shrimp farming industry faces environmental challenges, such as the production of wastewater rich in organic matter and nutrients, which can pose a threat to marine ecosystems. The main objective of this research is to treat this wastewater before its release. For this study, three species of macroalgae—Gracilaria pygmaea, Rhizoclonium riparium, and Sargassum glaucescens—were collected from the shores of the Persian Gulf (Bushehr Province). Additionally, a microalgae species, Nannochloropsis oculata, was obtained from a cultivation center. The results indicated that R. riparium exhibited the highest efficiency among the macroalgae, with a 70% nitrate removal capability within 48 hours. However, N. oculata demonstrated the highest overall efficiency, achieving 85% nitrate removal. This study highlights that the examined microalgae species (N. oculata) exhibited a greater capacity for absorbing and removing nitrates and phosphates compared to the studied macroalgae species. These findings could contribute to improving wastewater treatment processes associated with the shrimp farming industry.