SUCCESSFUL HATCHERY CULTURE OF HAWAII'S DEEP-WATER SNAPPER OPENS UP POTENTIAL FOR FISH FARMING AND REEF RESTOCKING
http://www.blackpearlsinc.com/
Kona Blue Water Farms (a division of Black Pearls, Inc.) today announced
that they have successfully reared opakapaka (Pristipomoides filamentosus -
the rosy snapper) from eggs. The company now has over 110 transparent
opakapaka fingerlings that are 40 days old, and around 1 inch in length.
BPI is a Kona company based at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii
Authority, at Keahole Point.
Stocks of Hawaii's deep-water snappers (opakapaka, ehu, onaga and others)
have been heavily overfished in the past. Heavy restrictions have been
placed on both recreational and commercial fishing in recent years, to try
to allow some recovery of the stocks. However, this recent breakthrough by
aquaculture researchers in Kona could now lead to reef restocking programs,
and could even open up open ocean aquaculture for these valuable fish.
The company likes to emphasize the environmental and economic benefits from
their hatchery work. As well as opakapaka, the company is researching
hatchery culture techniques with kahala (amberjack), omilu (bluefin
trevally), uku (green snapper), and aquarium-fish. The research team has
been able to rear kahala and flame angelfish through from eggs, and is
working on the other species.
While the company's basic business plan for this offshore farm is based on
mahimahi (dolphinfish) as the keystone species, the intention is to
sequentially include the more valuable fishes, such as opakapaka, kahala,
and others as the technology develops. These early hatchery successes are
therefore particularly exciting.
Total seafood imports into the U.S. are over $10 billion per year. Hawaii
currently imports most of its seafood, and over half of the deep-water
bottomfish (snappers and groupers) consumed here. The commercial bottomfish
catch in Hawaii dropped from an average of 1.7 million lbs (until around
1990) to around 740,000 lbs in the year 2000. Recreational catches have also
been in decline, and fishermen are now subjected to licensing, bag limits
and closed areas for these fish.
CONTACT:
Neil Anthony Sims, V.P. and Research Director, or Dr Dale Sarver, President.
Tel: 808-331-1188
Web : http://www.blackpearlsinc.com/
(From Aquaculture Info List, e-mail: dave.conley@sympatico.ca)