Seaenna Correa-Garcia1, Dr. Malia Rivera1, Dr. Kai Fox2
1 Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaiʻi, Mānoa
2 Hawaiʻi Sea Grant, University of Hawaiʻi, Mānoa
Nursery grow-out aquaculture facilities can provide a promising future in restoration, conservation, and availability for consumption of native Hawaiian limu (macroalgae). Research at Waikalua Aquatic Institute in Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu aims to develop an integrated system that will serve as a nursery for juvenile fish (pua) that will continue efforts in restocking restored fishponds. The established nursery comprises a flow through system that takes saltwater from the loko iʻa that first enters the pua tank, then flows into a tumble culture limu (macroalgae) tank, before returning to the loko iʻa. The algae mimic the natural filtration that happens in fully functioning loko iʻa. However, little is known regarding optimal conditions to cultivate native limu species within a tank culture system, such as this facility. Furthermore, recent efforts have faced hardship determining specific light intensity, nutrients, and overall maintenance and husbandry of such facilities. This research establishes a baseline protocol for cultivating native limu within a tank culture system, in absence of naturally occurring nutrients. For native red limu, we suggest a bi-weekly maintenance and fertilization schedule under a 90% shade cloth, which allows for growth of target species with a limited amount of growth of unwanted epiphytes. Through these endeavors, integrated restoration efforts to grow out native fish and limu within loko i‘a can become a viable resource to the community. Success will establish attainable critical nursery protocol that may be utilized by networks of other local fishpond managers, as we restore indigenous sustainable fishery practices.