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.