Posted on: Friday, December 7, 2001

First phase of marine center completed

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O‘ahu Writer

Waimanalo — The Oceanic Institute has dedicated three new buildings at its Makapu'u location, giving the center the ability to expand its research into new areas of marine biotechnology, nutrition research and ornamental fish species.

The buildings, unveiled this week, are the first part of the institute's $24.2 million Center for Applied Aquaculture and Marine Biotechnology. By the time the center is completed, it will include eight additional facilities, five more at Makapu'u and three others on Moloka'i and the Big Island.

The applied research conducted at the institute has been shared worldwide, said U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye.

"OI's expertise is known from Egypt and Israel, to Thailand and China," Inouye said. "There are also businesses in Hawai'i that have benefited from technology developed at Makapu'u."

The new buildings, the Marine Finfish Hatchery, Aquatic Feeds Research Module and the Environmental and Marine Science Building, were financed by grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture; the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce; and the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

"The new hatchery will double the institute's production of fish that supports commercial aquaculture ventures in Hawai'i and coastal fisheries restocking programs in Hawai'i and the Gulf of Mexico," said Thomas Farewell, president and chief executive officer of the institute.

The Aquatic Feeds Research Module will focus on marine shrimp and finfish nutrition and the evaluation of formulated feeds. The facility's target customers are commercial feed producers, ingredient and additive suppliers, trade associations and biotechnology companies, he said.

The marine science building holds testing laboratories.

"The laboratories will also allow the institute to initiate new research in molecular genetics and biotechnology, which holds great promise for the aquaculture industry," he said. "Hawai'i will benefit greatly as we transfer the successes of our research and development to individuals and business interests."

The institute, founded in 1960, is a private, not-for-profit applied research organization dedicated to development and transfer of technology and applications in aquaculture, environmental science and marine biotechnology.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.