Identifying the physiological responses to extreme environmental changes in Hawaiian sea cucumbers found in traditional fishponds

Research Projects 2022-2024

Identifying the physiological responses to extreme environmental changes in Hawaiian sea cucumbers found in traditional fishponds

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Andre Seale
Sea Grant Graduate Fellow: Tyler Goodearly
Research Track: Aquaculture

A split-level view parallel to a calm water surface, viewing sea cucumbers resting on a sandy, shallow ocean bed below, and blue skies with white clouds above. — Sea cucumbers (*Holothuria atra*), like these in a shallow tide pool on Ailuk atoll in the Marshall Islands, could be a key solution to enhancing nutrient cycling in Hawaiian fishponds. (Photo: Andre Seale)

In Hawaiʻi, there is rising market demand for locally-produced seafood. For the past several years, revitalization and restoration of traditional Hawaiian fishponds, or loko i‘a, have been ongoing. One challenge for successful fishpond restoration is the incomplete understanding of the changes to pond ecosystems in response to environmental changes and management strategies. Fishponds are typically located in coastal environments that are especially susceptible to increases in extreme weather events that can rapidly change water conditions, especially water temperature and salinity. Sea cucumbers present a unique candidate for the production of a high-value, low-trophic species which may improve fishpond ecosystems by enhancing nutrient cycling. This project aims to optimize conditions and best management strategies for two Hawaiian sea cucumbers, by characterizing and testing the salinity and temperature tolerance of these species, in partnership with local fishpond practitioners and sea cucumber producers.