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COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA

LAND GRANT PROGRAM
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  • COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA LAND GRANT PROGRAM

Pohnpei Research

College of Micronesia-FSM Marine Science & Aquaculture Class visits COM Nett Point Aquaculture Hatchery

On March 19, 2024, Students from the College of Micronesia-FSM’s Marine Science & Aquaculture class, guided by science instructor Peltin Olter Pelep, embarked on a site visit to the COM Nett Point aquaculture hatchery. The students were introduced to the sea cucumber hatchery operations methods, from broodstock collection, spawning, and larval rearing, Nursery -1 in the incubator, and lectures on Nursery-2 and grow-out farming methods.

Led by the hatchery project staff members Rex, Clayton, and Balenko, the students were given an overview of the incubator’s operations and species samples via microscope for observation.

Instructor Peltin demonstrated his interest in and support for the hatchery’s efforts, especially its role in promoting sustainable practices of Micronesian marine resources. He emphasized the importance of conservation efforts to safeguard the sea cucumber species from overharvesting in the wild. Peltin encouraged his students to consider internships at the hatchery, recognizing the greater opportunity for them to gain professional skills and knowledge in sustainable aquaculture practices.

Instructor Peltin hopes to take his students to the nursery farms at Nihco Marine Park and Grow-out farms later to observe and learn about the third and fourth stages of the Program, Nursery-2 and Grow-out, respectively.

COM-FSM Marine Science Students with instructor Peltin Olter Pelep during their visit to COM Land Grant Nett Point Hatchery on March 19, 2024

COM-FSM Marine Science Students observing and learning the techniques of larval rearing from COM Land Grant Nett Point Hatchery staff

COM-FSM Marine Science Students learning the techniques of spawning from Hatchery staff and COM-FSM Marine Science Alumni Rex Edmund

Director, Island Sustainability Institute, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan, visit COM Nett Point Aquaculture Hatchery

 Dr. Anne McDonald and Dr. Iain Hall, Director and Visiting Researcher, respectively, at the Island Sustainability Institute, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan, are in Pohnpei as part of helping Pohnpei State to finalize its Food Security Policy. The team showed interest in COM Land Grant Aquaculture Program activities and visited the  COM Land Grant Nett Point Aquaculture Hatchery in Pohnpei on March 9, 2024. 

The team observed the Sandfish sea cucumber larval rearing activity and interviewed the Micronesian staff under Dr. Manoj R Nair, Director and Chief Scientist of Aquaculture Technology Development, Rex Edmund, and Clayton Maluwelgiye about different aspects of the sea cucumber hatchery, nursery and farming program and how they work towards improving ordinary Micronesians’ livelihoods.

Dr. McDonald was impressed with the program and encouraged project staff Rex to apply for a Master’s degree program at her university for his professional development.

Pictured from left to right: Clayton Maluwelgiye, Dr. Iain Hall, Dr. Manoj Nair, and Dr. Anne McDonald at the COM Land Grant Nett Point hatchery in Pohnpei.

Blue Prosperity Micronesia and National Geographic Pristine Seas visit COM Nett Point Aquaculture Hatchery to interview and film a feature on how COM Land Grant Aquaculture’s Sea cucumber farming program.

 Blue Prosperity Micronesia and National Geographic Pristine Seas conducted a  Nationwide Marine Science Expedition in the Federated States of Micronesia. As part of this exercise, A filing crew from the expedition visited the COM Land Grant Nett Point Aquaculture Hatchery and the Awak Community sea cucumber farm in Awak, U Municipality in Pohnpei on October 26, 2023. 

The team interviewed the Micronesian staff under Dr. Manoj R Nair, Director and Chief Scientist of Aquaculture technology development. Rex Edmund, Belenko Halverson, and Clayton Maluwelgiye on their personal and professional experiences as project staff and how they work towards improving ordinary Micronesians’ livelihoods.

Later, the team visited the Awak community farm in Awak, U Municipality, Pohnpei, interviewed community members, and observed first-hand farmed sea cucumber samples and how the project staff collected project data.

 

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Blue Prosperity & National Geographic Pristine Seas team interviewing Rex Edmund at Nett Point Hatchery. 

Blue Prosperity & National Geographic Pristine Seas team filming data collection at the Awak sea cucumber farm site. Project staff Belenko Halverson and Rex Edmund are collecting data on farmed sea cucumbers. The Awak Sea cucumber farm can be seen in the background.

COM’s RMI Regent Minister Heine Visits Sea Cucumber Hatchery

KOLONIA, POHNPEI, FSM. Dr. Manoj R. Nair, Director & Chief Scientist, COM Land Grant Aquaculture Programs, Nett Point, Pohnpei, FSM.

College of Micronesia Land Grant Program (NIFA, USDA) (COMLG), Board of Regents Member & Minister of Education Republic of the Marshall Islands Mr. Wilbur Heine and College of Marshall Islands Dean of Land Grant Mr. Biuma Samson visited Pohnpei from June 5-7, 2016.

Left to Right OFA Administrator Mr. Casiano Shoniber, Dean CMI Land Grant Biuma Samson, RMI Ambassador to Washington DC Mr. Gerald Zackios,, Director and Chief Scientist COM Aquaculture , Dr. Manoj R. Nair , Minister of Education RMI and COM Board Member, Mr. Wilbur Heine in front of the COM Land Grant Nett Point Hatchery at Nett Point, Pohnpei State.
Left to Right OFA Administrator Mr. Casiano Shoniber, Dean CMI Land Grant Biuma Samson, RMI Ambassador to Washington DC Mr. Gerald Zackios, Director and Chief Scientist COM Aquaculture, Dr. Manoj R. Nair , Minister of Education RMI and COM Board Member, Mr. Wilbur Heine in front of the COM Land Grant Nett Point Hatchery at Nett Point, Pohnpei State.

The main purpose of the visit was to visit the COM Land Grant Aquaculture Program at the COM Land Grant Nett Point hatchery. The COM Land Grant hatchery at Nett Point is currently developing site specific aquaculture technologies for economic development of FSM and Palau. The main focus currently is on sea cucumber aquaculture. The targeted species is the commercially important sea cucumber species Holothuria scabra commonly called sandfish and locally called “Langon” in Pohnpeian language. The sea cucumber farming tehnology being developed and trialed is based on hatchery produced sea cucumber juveniles.

Minister Wilbur Heine wanted to actually see the work being undertaken hands on by the local staff under the supervision of Dr. Nair. Minister Wilbur Heine and Dean Biuma Sampson had discussions with Dr. Nair to explore the possibility of coming over and establishing a sea cucumber hatchery in Majuro at the CMI Arrak Campus aquaculture facility and train Marshallese staff at COM Land Grant Nett Point hatchery on sea cucumber. These staff are expected to run the hatchery in Majuro when finished and up and running.

During the visit at Nett Point, Minster Wilbur Heine and Dean Biuma Samson also had the opportunity to meet the new Adiminstrator of Pohnpei State Government Office of the Fisheries and Aquaculture (OFA) Mr. Casiano Shoniber. The Minister Wilbur Heine and Dean CMI Land Grant was accompanied by Former Secreteriat of Pacific Community (SPC) Northern Region Chief and the new Republic of the Marshall Islands Ambassador to Washington DC, Mr Gerald Zackios.