AQUA 353 Lab - Fall 09

From the University of Hawaii's course catalog:

AQUA 353 Invertebrate & Algae Culture (3) (S) Theory and practice of aquaculture techniques for invertebrates and plants including identification, reproduction, hatchery and nursery operations, grow-out, health management, harvest, processing and marketing. Pre: AQUA 262 or aquatic ecology or instructor’s consent.

AQUA 353L Cultures of Invertebrates Lab (1) (lab) (S) Hands-on experience in hatchery, nursery and grow-out of aquatic invertebrates and algae. Pre: AQUA 353 or concurrent enrollment.

This first set of photos is from a laboratory activity where oysters were bred, as they would be in a commercial shellfish hatchery. The oyster used here is the oriental or pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas. It was introduced from Japan in 1912, and is a favorite among many diners.

First, the oysters are cleaned with a brush.

This one is ready for duty.

Next, the oysters are immersed in a 30-degrees C water bath. This upward shift in temperature induces the spawning response whereby males release sperm and females release their eggs. These shellfish are gregarious breeders, the eggs and sperm are released together by all and mix together in the sea. New life results.

Professor Maria Haws (maroon-colored shirt) provides instruction to her students.

Oysters that do not want to cooperate with the 30-degree inducement can be opened with a knife. This kills the oyster, but one is assured to get the eggs or sperm out this way....Adam demonstrates.

Each oyster is placed into a small tub to collect its eggs or sperm. Through sampling and microscopic inspection, one can determine which are male and which are female. Each egg-containing tub is mixed with sperm from at least three males to ensure good genetic diversity. End result is millions of fertilized oyster eggs ready to grow-out and hopefully survive. Even with 25% survival, we can end up with several hundred million fertilized eggs.

Lab at Richardson's Beach Park.

A couple miles down the road south from the PACRC facility is a beautiful beach park.

Looking north-west towards Hilo (typical rainy weather that direction). Many sea turtles (honu) come here to feed each day.

As seen above, the south side of the park is an excellent area for snorkeling or just taking a swim. Walk five feet off shore, look into the water, and one can see a multitude of different fish, both large and small.

The students have just finished collecting all the different macro-algae they could find.

The different algal species were identified using a textbook as a guide.

Great place for a lab on a Friday afternoon.

A local fisherman (opportunistic hunter/gatherer) shows-off his catch, a couple of squid.

Hilo Farmers' Market

The Hilo Farmers' Market is located in downtown Hilo, across from the bus transfer station, on the main drag, Kamehameha Street. It has been going for 20 years and is in full operation Wednesdays and Saturdays from about 8 am until mid-afternoon, or the vendors run out of goods. Every other day of the week there are a limited number of craft vendors and a few produce stalls.

There is a lot of variety in what is offered. Many fruits and vegetables, with some processed goods and ready-to-eat items.
There are organically grown produce items, and sometimes you see them even diplaying produce from a carton labeled "Dole", or some other familiar brand name, though this is not too common.
The man in the blue shirt above, Tom Sharkey, has a cacao farm and processes and sells his own chocolates, among other things.
Most everything is priced at about $1 to $3, for example, three Maui onions (sweet) for $2, or four strawberry papayas for $2.
White pineapple is a real treat. The season just ended, near the beginning of October, but during the summer months it is not to be missed. Like pineapple candy, only better.
The salsa vendor is very generous with his samples. He has many interesting varieties, some sweet, some traditional, some picante hot. I have it with my eggs almost every morning.
This vendor has great sauces and marinades. He is always on the phone or talking to someone, as pictured above.
Flower vendors are a plenty. You can get a beautiful bouquet for $5.

And live plants as well. Look at the prices on these orchids...all $5 to $10, and they are beautiful.
There are dozens of craft and garment vendors. Have to pay attention if you want a real Hawaiian item, since much of the stuff is "Made in China". The authentic items quite often have the artisan at the booth doing the selling.
Shirts in all sizes. Check the tag to be sure it says "Made in Hawaii".When it's 420, it must be time to go home because at 5 pm we typically "get our drink on".

If you dogs are barkin', you can get a massage, $1 per minute. My wife, Jean, is going to hate me for posting this photo of her getting kneaded.

The Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center (PACRC)

The PACRC is relatively new and still in its early years of development. It has been nearly two and a half years since I first visited the University of Hawaii-Hilo and the PACRC. The following photos chronicle those visitations.

The PACRC lies due North of the Hilo Airport, and due East of the Port.
Notice there is a cruise ship in port when the satellite took this image.
Judging by the number and position of tanks at the PACRC, this image was taken sometime around November 2007.

*December 2007*


*June 2008*

One of two large tanks left over from when this was the city's sewage treatment plant.

The other large tank drained and ready for refurbishment.

Looking West across the property, June 2008.

Algae being cultivated in a batch-system manner. These algae are used as live feed for shellfish.

It is a bag in a mesh frame. Carbon dioxide is periodically bubbled in through an air-stone in the bottom of each bag.

Another view of the algae outdoors.

Algae being grown indoors, or under the cover of a fabric tunnel.
Inside the second fabric tunnel where shellfish are grown.
Student research assistants taking care of business.

Now we are into September 2009. his is the PACRC looking NE from the fabric tunnels. You can see in the middle-left that there is a fabric cover on one of the two large tanks. It is being prepared for receiving and growing-out tuna.
Algae being cultivated outdoors. There is now a mesh cover over the algae. Notice the cruise liner in the background at the Port of Hilo. Looks like a hotel.
In addition to the mesh cover, the bags now are misted with water to provide for evaporative cooling. It actually gets too hot here during mid-day to grow most micro-algal species at their optimum.
A place for relaxation overlooking Hilo Bay.