8/7/24 – Ānuenue Sea Urchin Hatchery update
The tanks of the Ānuenue Fisheries Research Center Sea Urchin Hatchery are bubbling with activity. Beneath the water’s surface thousands of hāwa‘e maoli or native collector urchins are growing and eating limu in preparation for their upcoming journey. Six months after spawning these urchins will be large enough to leave the hatchery and begin their new jobs, keeping the coral reefs of Kāne‘ohe Bay clean and healthy by eating invasive algae.
Hāwa‘e maoli act as grazers, chowing down on a variety of invasive algae that block sunlight and important nutrients from reaching the coral reefs. Over one million of these small but mighty urchins have been raised and released by the staff at the Ānuenue Fisheries Research Center, with more growing every day. With each urchin released into the bay, we get one step closer to a healthy and thriving reef.
To learn more about the work being done at the ĀFRC Sea Urchin Hatchery check out our web page or check back with this blog as we continue to generate new posts on the exciting life cycle of a hatchery sea urchin!
Juvenile urchins feed on algae on plastic sheets. Photos by Katie McLaren.
Urchins ready for out planting. Photo by Katie McLaren.