Anuenue Fisheries Research Center
Location
The
Anuenue Fisheries Research Center (AFRC) is a facility of the State of
Hawai'i's Division of Aquatic Resources, Department of Land and Natural
Resources. It is situated on a 4.25-acre parcel on Sand Island, some
six miles from downtown Honolulu.
Facilities
The AFRC serves as a base yard, hatchery, and culture center for the
Division of Aquatic Resources. The physical facilities include: (1) an
office complex; (2) a 7,000 square feet complex that houses a
biological-chemical laboratory, freshwater fish hatchery, workshop and
storage areas for fisheries survey gear, equipment, and boats; (3) a
19,000 square feet thermocontrolled hatchery building; (4) the Chief
Biologist's residence; and (5) quarantine facility for aquatic animal
disease studies.
Other Infrastructure
Other infrastructure include a boat launching ramp, 12-inch saltwater
well, two 5,000 gallon water towers (one to aerate the seawater, the
other to mix with freshwater to desired salinity), assorted outdoor
tanks, a 45 kVA emergency generator for power outages, and related
support facilities.
Staffing
The AFRC's full-time permanent staff consists of three Aquatic
Biologists and six Fishery Technicians. In addition, the full-time
temporary staff include three Fishery Technicians and a Librarian.
The AFRC staff also works closely with the Department of Agriculture's Aquaculture Disease Program whose full-time staff includes an Aquaculture Disease Specialist, two microbiologists, and a field diagnostic-disease specialist.
Recreational-Sportfishing & Aquaculture Activities
The AFRC is involved in all aspects of our fisheries and aquaculture
programs. Current activity involves the production of channel catfish
and rainbow trout for stocking of public fishing areas at Nu'uanu
(O'ahu) and Koke'e (Kaua'i), respectively. In addition, natural stock
enhancement experiments are also being conducted with the release of
mullet pua (baby fingerlings) into Hilo Bay and Kona areas on the
island of Hawai'i, and the release of moi juveniles (moili'i) on O'ahu
(in the Waikiki-Diamond Head Fisheries Management Area) and on Maui (in
Wailua Bay and Honomanu Bay).
Culture experiments currently include the moi, kumu, ulua, aholehole, hybrid rose tilapia, Samoan crab, and ogo. Collaborative studies are being conducted on moi and opakapaka in cooperation with Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology and the Oceanic Institute. Cooperation, support, and infrastructure assistance are also provided to the University of Hawai'i's Sea Grant Extension Program (UHSG), the Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture (CTSA), and Waikiki Aquarium, and the Hawaii Aquaculture Association.
(top left to bottom right): Channel catfish eggs, juveniles, adults; fishing at Nu'uanu Reservoir
The recent success of the submerged offshore sea cage (moi experiment) and land based operations has resulted in an increase in the demand for moi seed stock. The AFRC is expanding its moi seed stock production to accommodate the needs of the growing moi aquaculture industry in Hawai'i.
The staff at the AFRC also provide extension service to Hawai'i's aquaculture community, with services including pond chemistry, pond management, hatchery design, farm production management and marketing, and library research, etc. In addition, aquatic management and disease diagnostic services are available through the Aquaculture Development Program's Disease Specialist stationed at the AFRC.
left): Interior of AFRC thermocontrolled facility; (right): Moi in tank.
Fisheries Support
The AFRC supports all of the Division's programs relating to freshwater
and marine biological surveys, fish stock assessments, fish aggregating
devices, artificial reefs, drift net removal, and fish kill and
pollution investigations, as necessary. AFRC serves as a base yard for
equipment, boats and vehicles. Field survey work is based out of the
facility. The AFRC's Fishery Technicians provide a pool of manpower
responsible for boat and vehicle maintenance, and servicing/repairing
of fisheries survey equipment and gear. The Fishery Technicians are
certified divers, and participate in marine surveys with Aquatic
Biologists using SCUBA and other survey related equipment.
(left): AFRC Technicians and Division biologists conducting fish transects;
(right): Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) constructed at AFRC and nearby Snug Harbor.
Diagram illustrating layout of the facilities at Anuenue Fisheries Research Center.