Advancing Sea Cucumber Aquaculture in Hawaiian Fishponds

Sea cucumber aquaculture is a major missed opportunity for the United States. This is a rapidly growing industry but domestic production is limited to wild-caught extraction. Hawaii is geographically well-positioned for export to market destinations and features a unique opportunity for aquaculture. Hawaiian fishponds are ancient aquaculture systems that feature excess nutrients proven to be suitable sea cucumber feeds. The proposed project will take a scientifically rigorous approach to determine optimal production methods as well as improve hatchery efficiency by integrating new larval feeding techniques. This work has significant potential to benefit aquaculture in the U.S. and its Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI). Fishpond production of a unique species of Hawaiian sea cucumber will be investigated through hatchery production and caged trials. Recently described hatchery feed alternatives utilizing a marine yeast with nutritional and prebiotic qualities will be tested to improve hatchery production efficiency for Hawaiian sea cucumbers with high potential for commercialization. The project offers a direct route towards commercialization with the lead entity being a private company with hatchery and grow-out capacity. Project outcomes will complement ongoing research towards establishing sea cucumber aquaculture in Hawaiian fishponds and establish a network of potential growers throughout Hawaii. Successful results will promote Phase II research to provide a foundation for rapidly developing a sea cucumber aquaculture industry benefiting the indigenous and underserved communities formed around fishpond restoration. This will address goals of the USDA Strategic Plan relating to increasing equity in the aquaculture industry and expanding economic opportunities in Native Hawaiian communities