Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center

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Kevin Hopkins, Director (hopkins@hawaii.edu)

Tel: (808) 933-3289

Fax: (808) 933-0499

Web: pacrc.uhh.hawaii.edu

The Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center provides the infrastructure to support world-class aquaculture, marine science, and conservation biology programs at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. Center activities also include interdisciplinary research and development in coastal areas throughout the world and, through the Hawaiʻi Cooperative Studies Unit, a wide variety of ecological and environmental projects.

The Center has two facilities: a 12-acre coastal site at Keaukaha, adjacent to the port of Hilo, and an inland site at Panaʻewa, six miles away. Keaukaha facilities include a water quality laboratory, mollusk hatchery and marine fish hatchery. Water supplies include brackish water, saltwater, and, after renovation of a 1200-ft deep well is complete, very cold seawater.

The primary purposes of the Panaʻewa site are health management and integrated agriculture-aquaculture farming systems. State-of-the-art quarantine facilities allow work on exotic species. Reuse of nutrient-enriched waters including aquaponics are demonstrated as methods to improve efficiency and profitability of local farms.

Students are actively involved in all aspects of Center operations. The Center coordinates several student internship programs (see Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Science (PIPES)), and employs numerous students every year. The Center also maintains close relationships with aquaculture firms, many of whom also employ UH Hilo graduates.