HONOLULU, Hawaii (24 Jan 2002) -- Researchers from three of Hawaii's leading marine institutions have become the first to successfully raise three species of colorful Hawaiian reef fishes from larvae, signaling a breakthrough in aquaculture techniques that could have far-reaching implications for coral reef conservation. In all three cases, the breakthrough workers had been seeking was achieved by first successfully culturing particular types of microscopic marine animals called zooplankton. These tiny creatures form the only suitable food sources for the earliest (larval) stages of these fishes' development. Natural spawns of the reef fish were nurtured through the larval stage, and the new "babies" are now about 3 months old and appear to be in good health. The new broods include the flame anglefish (raised at the Oceanic Institute), Hawaiian masked angelfish (raised at the Waikiki Aquarium) and Fisher's angelfish (raised at the Hawaii's Institute of Marine Biology. Workers at all three organizations collaborated on developing the new techniques, accounting for the three breakthroughs at about the same time. Anthony Ostrowski, finfish program manager for the Oceanic Institute, said "The challenge now for our researchers is to convert these early achievements into reliable technology that will allow commercial cultivation of high-value species such as the flame angelfish and yellow tang." Ostrowski said these developments would reduce the impact by the aquarium trade on Hawaii's - and eventually other - coral reef ecosystems. More than 400,000 reef fish are collected annually from Hawaii's reefs alone, with enough cumulative impact to seriously deplete populations in some areas. In response, the state has banned collecting on certain reefs. | | Proud parent of the first litter of flame angelfish successfully raised in captivity. In other parts of the world, such as the Philippines, impacts are even worse. There, collectors routinely release cyanide onto the reefs to capture small fish. Some fishes take in enough of the poison to be stunned, but not killed. The collateral damage to other reef life at these sites has been catastrophic, and many of the collected fish do not live long enough to reach aquariums. Waikiki Aquarium Director Bruce Carlson called the new successes of the Hawaiian researchers a "landmark achievement in the field of aquaculture." The work was partially supported by research seed money provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service and Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORKSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
