NOAA backs $1.1M project to boost Hawaiian sea cucumber aquaculture – The Fish Site

Report on a NOAA-Funded Initiative for Sustainable Sea Cucumber Aquaculture in Hawaiʻi

1.0 Introduction and Strategic Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has been awarded a grant of approximately $1.1 million by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The funding is allocated for a research project focused on developing reliable spawning techniques for the Native Hawaiian warty sea cucumber (Stichopus horrens). This initiative represents a critical step towards establishing sustainable aquaculture practices in the region and is a collaborative effort between the University’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) and the Sea Grant College Program. The project is fundamentally aligned with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning marine conservation, food security, and economic growth.

2.0 Project Objectives and Contribution to Global Goals

The primary objectives of the project are designed to overcome significant barriers in marine aquaculture and conservation, with direct contributions to the SDG framework.

1. Develop Controlled Spawning Protocols: The core objective is to establish reliable methods for inducing egg development and spawning in captive warty sea cucumbers.
   • SDG 14 (Life Below Water): By creating a dependable source of sea cucumbers through aquaculture, this research will alleviate pressure on wild populations, which have been severely depleted by overfishing, thereby contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources.
   • SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Successful captive breeding will enhance food security by creating a new, sustainable source of marine protein and supporting local food production systems.
2. Support Sustainable Aquaculture Development: The project aims to remove the primary obstacle to the commercial aquaculture of this species in Hawaiʻi.
   • SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Establishing a viable sea cucumber aquaculture industry can create sustainable economic opportunities and jobs, tapping into a global market valued at nearly $1 billion.
   • SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): This initiative promotes sustainable production patterns by shifting reliance from wild-caught fisheries to controlled, managed aquaculture systems.
3. Aid in Traditional Fishpond Restoration: The research will support the restoration and enhancement of traditional Hawaiian fishponds (loko iʻa).
   • SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Revitalizing loko iʻa strengthens cultural heritage, enhances community resilience, and promotes sustainable local food systems.

3.0 Methodology and Collaborative Framework

The project’s methodology is built upon foundational research that identified a key protein for egg maturation in the species. The current work will focus on applying this knowledge to develop practical protocols for aquaculture.

3.1 Partnership for the Goals (SDG 17)

This initiative exemplifies SDG 17 by fostering a multi-stakeholder partnership that integrates academic research with community and industry expertise. Key partners include:

• University of Hawaiʻi (CTAHR and Hawaiʻi Sea Grant)
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• Pacific American Foundation (Waikalua Loko Iʻa fishpond)
• Kauaʻi Sea Farms

This collaborative approach ensures that research findings are effectively translated into practical applications for food production and conservation restocking, accelerating progress towards sustainable development outcomes.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • The article discusses developing “reliable food production methods” for sea cucumbers, which are used as food products. This directly contributes to food security and sustainable agriculture.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

   • The core of the article is about a research and innovation project. The nearly “$1.1 million grant” from NOAA is dedicated to scientific research to “unlock reliable spawning techniques” and “address key barriers” in aquaculture, which aligns with enhancing scientific research and technological capabilities.

3. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • This is a central theme. The article states that overfishing has “severely depleted” wild sea cucumber populations. The project aims to reduce pressure on marine ecosystems by developing aquaculture as an alternative and supporting “conservation restocking,” directly addressing the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • The project is explicitly described as a multi-stakeholder “partnership between UH’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) and UH Sea Grant College Program,” which also involves “cultural and industry partners, including the Pacific American Foundation’s Waikalua Loko Iʻa fishpond and Kauaʻi Sea Farms.” This collaboration between academia, government (via NOAA funding), cultural foundations, and private industry exemplifies the spirit of this goal.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices… The project’s aim to develop “sustainable aquaculture in Hawaiʻi” and create “reliable food production methods” directly supports this target by focusing on a resilient and sustainable form of aquatic agriculture.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors… The project is a clear example of this target in action. It is a research initiative focused on developing “protocols to induce egg development and spawning in captivity” and building on foundational research to “rapidly advance research findings” into practical application.

3. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing… and restore fish stocks… The article highlights that “Overfishing has severely depleted” sea cucumbers. By creating a farmed alternative, the project helps reduce fishing pressure on wild stocks, contributing to the goal of ending overfishing and enabling “conservation restocking” to restore wild populations.
   • Target 14.7: By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island Developing States… from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of… aquaculture. As a project in Hawaiʻi, it aims to establish a commercial aquaculture industry for a product with a “global market of nearly $1 billion,” thereby increasing economic benefits from the sustainable use of marine resources.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships… The article details a partnership involving public universities (University of Hawaiʻi), a government agency (NOAA), a civil society/cultural partner (Pacific American Foundation), and a private industry partner (Kauaʻi Sea Farms), which is a direct embodiment of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 9 (Target 9.5)

   • Indicator (Implied): Research and development expenditure. The article explicitly mentions the project has secured a “nearly $1.1 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).” This monetary value serves as a direct indicator of investment in scientific research and innovation.

2. For SDG 14 (Target 14.4)

   • Indicator (Implied): Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels. The article implies this is currently low by stating that sea cucumbers have been “severely depleted” by overfishing. The success of the project in providing an alternative and supporting “conservation restocking” would be measured by an improvement in the health of wild sea cucumber populations.

3. For SDG 14 (Target 14.7)

   • Indicator (Implied): Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP. The article points to the economic potential by mentioning the “global market of nearly $1 billion” for sea cucumbers. The establishment of a successful commercial aquaculture industry in Hawai’i would be a measurable economic outcome contributing to this indicator.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: thefishsite.com