Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** hawaiian fishponds once served a…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** hawaiian fishponds once served a major role for food security in hawaii, but largely fell into disrepair following the dispossesion of lands from hawaiian people in the late 1800's. These partially manmade features are currently being restored throughout hawaii, and typically feature a dense layer of nutrients and detritus that can hamper traditional fishpond production but could offer an excellent food source for sea cucumbers. Sea cucumber aquaculture is a massive global industry that helps reduce pressure on wild stocks that are crucial to nearshore ecosystems, and the united states does not currently account for any farmed production. This project will expand upon ongoing efforts by kauai sea farm to establish fishpond production of sea cucumbers by evaluating new larval feeding strategies and investigating poduction methods of an undescribed species of sea cucumber. Project outcomes will advance ongoing research into sea cucumber production in hawaiian fishponds, specifically to overcome current challenges to production.