PACRC Research & Development Projects

Best Management Practices for Shrimp Culture

Official Title: Sustainable Development Practices in Priority Coastal Environments of the Gulf of California, with a focus on Recreational Marinas and Shrimp Mariculture
Principal Investigator(s): Maria Haws, Ph.D., __________
Partner(s): PACRC, University of Rhode Island, CESACIN, Conservation International Mexico, CREDES.
Funding: $93,000; USAID, David Lucille Packard Foundation via CRC/URI
Dates: February 2003 - August 2004
Status: Completed
Location(s): Instituto Sinaloense de Acuacultura (ISA); Sinaloa, Mexico.
Description: Shrimp farming in the Americas and Asia has traditionally relied upon expansion and intensification as the strategies to increase production. Both of these strategies can produce environmental, economic, and social impacts. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the David and Lucille Packard Foundation funded a collaborative program leading to the adoption of Best Management Practices (BMP) for siting and operation of shrimp culture and recreational marina development in areas of critical environmental and social concern within the Gulf of California. This project was completed in collaboration with the Instituto Sinaloense de Acuacultura (ISA), the University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center, and Conservation International Mexico.
Website: http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/~pacrc/Mexico/en/

Ensuring Long-Term Viability of Small-Scale Tropical Mariculture

Official Title: Bridging Gaps to Insure Long-term Viability of Small Tropical Mariculture Ventures in Hawai`i and the U.S.-affiliated Islands
Principal Investigator(s): Kevin Hopkins, Ph.D; Maria Haws, Ph.D.
Partner(s): Quentin Fong, Ph.D, Natural Resources Economist, Fisheries Technology Center, Kodiak Alaska, AK; Simon Ellis, Regional Aquaculture Extension Agent, Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM); C.L. Cheshire, Pacific Business Center, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI; Pohnpei Agricultural Trade School, Kolonia, Pohnpei, FSM; James Tobey, Ph.D., Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, RI; Singeru Singeo, Ph.D., College of Micronesia and College of the Marshall Islands Land Grant Offices, Pohnpei, FSM, and the PACRC
Funding: $1,600,000; United States Department of Agriculture
Dates: 2002-2004
Status: On-going
Location(s): University of Hawaii at Hilo, College of the Marshall Islands, Pohnpei Agricultural Trade School, Kolonia, FSM.
Description: Small-scale and family marine aquaculture farms in Hawaii and U.S.-affiliated Islands are increasingly making contributions ot island economies in need of livelihoods based on sustainable utilization of marine resources. Farming of black pearls, sponges, giant clams, hard and soft corals and other marine invertebrates is now firmly established as being biologically feasible in tropical island environments, yet constraints, primarily non-technical, still exist. This project addresses major barriers and informational gaps that exist for institutional and producer capacity in farm economics, marketing, and small-business management.
Website: Not currently available.

Black-Lip Pearl Oyster Farming In Micronesia and The Marshall Islands

Official Title: Development of Black-lip Pearl Oyster Farming in Pohnpei State, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and Republic of the Marshall Islands - Year 1 and Year 2
Principal Investigator(s): Maria Haws, Ph.D
Partner(s): Maria Haws, Simon Ellis, Greg Muckenhaupt, in cooperation with the Pohnpei Agriculture and Trade School.
Funding: $59,000 (Year 1), $63,000 (Year 2); Center for Tropical & Subtropical Aquaculture
Dates: November 2001 - October 2002 (Year 1), January 2004 - December 2004 (Year 2)
Status: n/a
Location(s): Pohnpei State, Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands
Description: Coming soon.
Website: Not currently available.

Pearl Oyster Conservation, Management, and Farming In Micronesia

Official Title: Pearl Oyster Conservation, Management, and Farming in the Federated States of Micronesia
Principal Investigators(s): Maria Haws, Simon Ellis, and Eileen Ellis
Funding: Funding provided by the David & Lucille Packard Foundation
Description: Coming soon.
Website: Not currently available.

Pearl Research and Training Program

Official Title: Pearl Research and Training Program
Principal Investigator(s): Maria Haws, Ph.D.
Partner(s): University of Hawai`i Sea Grant Extension Service; Office of Research and Development of the County of Hawai`i
Funding:
Dates:
Status: On-going
Location(s): Pacific Aquaculture & Resources Center
Description: The Pearl Research and Training Program was founded in 1999 to address the need of residents of Hawaii and the Western Pacific Islands to access information on pearl farming and other activities related to the pearl industry. The Program operates to eliminate the secrecy surrounding pearl production and build capacity so that stakeholders in the Pacific can enter into the sustainable production of one of the key marine resources in the Region and derive more direct benefit from pearl farming. The fundamental principle of the Program is that stakeholders have a natural right to information that allows them to better utilize and control their resource. Sustainability, equitability, and transparency are guiding tenents in our work.
Website: Not currently available.

Human Health Impacts and Aquaculture

Human Health Impacts and Aquaculture: International Extension Exchange and Human Health Studies. More on this project coming soon.

Post-Tsunami Sustainable Coastal Livelihoods Program

Official Title: Thailand Post-Tsunami Sustainable Coastal Livelihoods Program
Principal Investigator(s):
Partner(s): University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center, Asian Institute of Technology
Funding: USAID
Dates:
Status: On-going
Location(s): Tsunami-Affected Area of Ranong Province, Thailand
Description: The goal of the Post-Tsunami Sustainable Coastal Livelihoods Project is to rebuild livelihoods and rehabilitate coastal communities affected by the December 2004 tsunami through participatory ICM processes, strategies and capacity building.
Website: http://www.crc.uri.edu/index.php?filespec=live_data.php&projectid=86

Marine Ornamental Research Initiative

The capture of key reef species for ornamental use can have major impacts on reef fish populations. The PACRC, in collaboration with the private sector, is developing techniques to reduce impacts on coral reef ecosystems while increasing supply of ornamental fishes, corals, and tropical invertebrates to meet growing demands from hobbyists. We are currently expanding this research from pearl oysters to include marine ornamental fishes and corals. For more information on this program, please contact Kevin Hopkins at hopkins(at)hawaii.edu.