Abstract

This study aimed to create an integrated model system to bio-remediate escaped crude oil in marine environment and study the impact of the bioremediation processes on the aquatic living organisms using Mugil cephalus fries as a living case study. Three crude oil concentrations (100, 300 and 500 ppm) were tested using glass aquaria inoculated with M. cephalus fries. The chemical treatment was carried out using a commercial oil disperser and a microbial treatment was carried out by a marine bacterial isolate (Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain elnaggar1), the experiment was extended for 45 days. The impacts of these treatments on the growth performance and the survival percent of these M. cephalus fries were recorded according to the changes in their clinical signs, lengths and weights along the rearing period. The results indicated that the microbial treatment using P. aeruginosa is more effective for the remediation of the crude oil contaminated seawater and also for keeping the growth performance of the tested fish as similar as the untreated fries. On the other hand, the used chemical treatment led to increase the susceptibility of these tested fries towards the rot fin disease. 

Key words: Mugil cephalus, crude oil, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, bioremediation,rearing.