Here ya go Mr. Angel:
FLAME ANGELFISH
HATCHERY BREAKTHROUGH
BY KONA COMPANY
CONTACT: Neil Anthony Sims, V.P./Research Director, or Dr Dale Sarver, President.
Mahimahi, opakapaka, kampachi … now add flame angelfish to the list of valuable marine species that have been reared by Kona Blue Water Farms over the last year at their hatchery facility at the Natural Energy Laboratory, at Keahole Point, Kona.
Following on from their breakthrough with opakapaka hatchery culture earlier this year, researchers at KBWF (a division of Black Pearls, Inc.) recently achieved the first known rearing of flame angelfish in larger numbers. Although several other researchers in Hawaii have produced angelfish in the hatchery in ones and twos over the past year, this is the first time, to our knowledge, that any angelfish species has been successfully reared in significant numbers.
The photograph shows Leslie Hain, a Researcher at KBWF, holding a beaker with a small sample of juvenile flame angels, from a group of over 100 that were recently reared.
The company claims that there is great commercial potential for producing flame angelfish – and other high value ornamental species - in the hatchery to supply to the aquarium trade. Producing these fish in the hatchery would alleviate the current pressure on wild stocks of tropical reef fish, which are targeted by aquarium-fish collectors in Kona. Aquarium-fish collecting has sparked some significant controversy in the last few years, with legislative moves to shut down the entire fishery, and a compromise agreement closing off over one third of the coastline to aquarium-fish divers.
This recent hatchery breakthrough may also herald opportunities for reef restocking of flame angels and other ornamental fishes. Particularly in areas where heavy fishing has occurred in the past, reef restocking could help to replenish the stocks of these beautiful fish, with long-term benefits for the environment, the local tourist economy and the recreational dive industry.
This cutting-edge research has been supported by a three-year research project into developing marine fish hatchery methods, from the Advanced Technology Program (ATP), under NIST, in the Department of Commerce.
Kona Blue Water Farms is also proposing to set up a pioneering offshore fish farm, for an area north of Keahole Point.
“We have submitted the paperwork to the State for our offshore fish farm proposal,” said Dr Dale Sarver, BPI President, “but the Environmental Assessment has not yet been circulated officially for public comment.”
Recognizing the interest among the Kona community in the fish farm proposal, BPI has placed the entire EA on their web site at
www.blackpearlsinc.com. The site also includes transcripts of earlier public meetings, other background material, and a “Frequently Asked Questions” section that invites further discussion.
“We want to allow people to review our plans, and provide us with feedback” said Dr Sarver. “We believe that if people understand what we are proposing to do, there is a better chance that they will support our efforts.”
KBWF will rely exclusively on hatchery production to stock their farm with high-value local species, such as mahimahi (dolphinfish), opakapaka (deep-water snapper), and kampachi (kahala).
The company points to their recent hatchery successes with flame angels and opakapaka as the path to the future of aquaculture in Kona.
Wednesday, December 11, 2002
Kona, Hawaii