Introduction

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Mission

The mission of CTSA is to support aquaculture research, development, demonstration and extension education to enhance viable and profitable U.S. aquaculture.

Background

Title XIV of the Agriculture and Food Act of 1980 and the Food Security Act of 1985 authorized establishment of aquacultural research, development and demonstration centers in the United States (Subtitle L, Sec. 1475[d]) in association with colleges and universities, state departments of agriculture, federal facilities, and non-profit private research institutions.
The Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture (CTSA) is one of five regional aquaculture centers funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Research projects span the American Insular Pacific, using its extensive resource base to meet the needs and concerns of the tropical aquaculture industry. 
The five Regional Aquaculture Centers encourage cooperative and collaborative aquaculture research and extension education programs that have regional or national applications.  Center programs complement and strengthen existing research and extension educational programs provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and by other public institutions.  The Centers' objectives are to:
  • promote aquaculture research, development and demonstration for the enhancement of viable and profitable commercial aquaculture production in the United States for the benefit of producers, consumers and the American economy;
  • utilize the Regional Centers in a national program of cooperative and collaborative research, extension and development activities among public and private institutions having demonstrated capabilities in support of commercial aquaculture in the United States. The Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture is jointly administered by the University of Hawaii and The Oceanic Institute. The Center offices and staff are located at The Oceanic Institute’s Makapu`u Point site on windward Oahu. 

Organizational Structure

CTSA funds aquaculture research, development and demonstration projects. Each year’s program is the result of several groups working together for many months. A Board of Directors oversees the Center’s programmatic functions, and an Executive Committee is responsible for the Center’s administrative policy and functions.
In addition, CTSA has two working groups. The Industry Advisory Council (IAC) comprises members from financial institutions, aquacultural and agricultural enterprises, government agencies and other business concerns. The Technical Committee (TC) is made up of researchers, extension agents and fisheries officers. 
The Board, the IAC and the TC draw their members from American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawaii, the Republic of Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Administrative Center

The Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture is co-administered by the University of Hawaii and The Oceanic Institute. CTSA’s Administrative Center is located at The Oceanic Institute, on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.  The Administrative Center staff provides all necessary support services for the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors, the Industry Advisory Council, the Technical Committee, various project review panels and delegations and project work groups.  Dr. Cheng-Sheng Lee, Center Director, supervises operation of the Center.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is the legal entity responsible for the Center's overall administrative policy formulation, budget and procedures.  It also appoints the CTSA Director. The members of the Executive Committee are:
  • Dr. Gary D. Pruder, The Oceanic Institute, {Executive Committee Chairman};
  • Dr. Dean Smith, University of Hawaii.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is responsible for the development and implementation of the Center's program policy, including concurrence on total budget issues.  The Board is also responsible for development of ancillary agreements with other agencies and institutions.
The members of the Board of Directors represent educational, state and non-profit private research institutions throughout the region.  The Board of Directors:
  • establishes initial guidelines for regional aquaculture research, development and demonstration activities;
  • appoints and removes members of the Industry Advisory Council and the Technical Committee;
  • approves the proposed strategy for project selection;
  • approves the priority areas and goals for industry development identified by the Industry Advisory Council and Technical Committee;
  • approves the Annual Plan of Work, including budget allocations;
  • approves the Annual Accomplishment Report for consistency with the goals and objectives of CTSA and the authorizing legislation;
  • develops ancillary agreements with other institutions.

The members of the Board of Directors, in alphabetical order, are:

  • Dr. Jeff Barcinas, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Guam;
  • Mr. John Corbin, Hawaii State Aquaculture Development Program;
  • Dr. Michael Harrington, Hawaii Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, 

University of Hawaii;

  • Dr. Charles Helsley, Sea Grant College Program, University of Hawaii;
  • Dr. Gary D. Pruder, The Oceanic Institute {Executive Committee Chairman}; 
  • Dr. Singeru Singeo, Land Grant Program, College of Micronesia;
  • Dr. Dean Smith, University of Hawaii, {Board Chairman}.

Industry Advisory Council

Members of the Industry Advisory Council include commercial aquaculture farmers, aquaculture suppliers and members of government bodies and financial institutions.  Members are appointed by the Board of Directors for three-year, renewable terms.  In the Industry Advisory Council's capacity as an advisory body, it provides an open information exchange forum for those involved in the aquaculture business.  With the approval of the Board of Directors, contributions of the IAC can be incorporated into annual and ongoing plans for CTSA. The Industry Advisory Council:
  • recommends research and development needs and priorities from the perspective of the aquaculture industry;
  • participates as needed in the review of proposals, project progress reports, program review delegations and other functions of the Center;
  • recommends to the Board actions regarding new and continuing proposals, proposal modifications and terminations.

Members of the Industry Advisory Council are:

  • Mr. Bo Alexander, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii;
  • Mr. David Barclay, Aquatic Culture and Design;
  • Mr. Michael Bauerlein, Guam Aquaculture Development and Training Center;
  • Dr. Paul Bienfang, CEA Tech USA Inc.;
  • Mr. Dennis Bishop, Kona Mariculture;
  • Ms. Rebecca Bishop-Yuen; 
  • Ms. Mary Brooks, Pacific Aquaculture;
  • Mr. Steve Chaikin, Molokai Sea Farms;
  • Mr. Michael Crisostomo, Kurumaya Seahorse Restaurant;
  • Mr. Richard Croft, Pohnpei Natural Products;
  • Mr. Yimnang Golbuu, Palau Community College;
  • Mr. John Gourley, Micronesia Clam Company;
  • Ms. Linda Gusman, Island Aquaculture;
  • Mr. Steve Katase, Royal Hawaiian Sea Farms;
  • Mr. Robert Kern, Tropical Ponds of Hawaii;
  • Mr. Jeff Koch, Mokuleia Aquafarm;
  • Mr. Andrew Kuljis, Aquatic Farms;
  • Dr. Todd Lorenz, Cyanotech;
  • Dr. Craig MacDonald, Hawaii State Ocean Resources Development;
  • Mr. Richard Masse, Mangrove Tropicals
  • Mr. Jerry Norris, Pacific Basin Development Council;
  • Mr. Ramsey Reimers, Robert Reimers Enterprises;
  • Mr. Toshiuki Rudolph, Kukuoro Municipal Government;
  • Dr. Richard Spencer, Hawaiian Marine Enterprises {Industry Advisory Council Chairman and ex officio member of the BOD}
  • Mr. Ron Weidenbach, Hawaii Fish Company;
  • Dr. James Wyban, High Health Aquaculture;
  • Dr. Leonard Young, Hawaii State Aquaculture Development Program.

Technical Committee

The Technical Committee's members represent participating research institutions and state extension services, other state or territorial public agencies as appropriate, and non-profit private research institutions. The Technical Committee provides research expertise to address priorities set by the Industry Advisory Council.  Members are appointed by the Board of Directors for three-year, renewable terms. The Technical Committee:
  • prepares Problem Statements for priority areas identified by the Industry Advisory Council;
  • participates as needed in project review panels, Program Review Delegations and other functions of the Center.

The members of the Technical Committee are:

  • Dr. Harry Ako, University of Hawaii {Technical Committee Chairman and ex officio member of the BOD};
  • Dr. Maqsudul Alam, University of Hawaii;
  • Ms. Kristen Anderson, Hamilton Library, University of Hawaii;
  • Dr. Brad Argue, The Oceanic Institute;
  • Mr. Richard Bailey, Sea Grant Extension Service, University of Hawaii;
  • Dr. James Brock, Hawaii State Aquaculture Development Program;
  • Dr. Christopher Brown, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii;
  • Dr. John Brown, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Guam;
  • Mr. David Crisostomo, University of Guam Cooperative Extension Service;
  • Mr. Simon Ellis, Land Grant College Program, College of Micronesia;
  • Dr. Kevin Hopkins, University of Hawaii;
  • Dr. Robert D. Howerton, Sea Grant Extension Service, University of Hawaii;
  • Mr. Tom Iwai, Anuenue Fisheries Research Center;
  • Dr. Christopher Kelley, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology;
  • Dr. Andrew Kuniyuki, Cooperative Research and Extension, College of the Marshall Islands;
  • Dr. PingSun Leung, University of Hawaii;
  • Dr. Shaun Moss, The Oceanic Institute;
  • Mr. Obichang Orak, Palau Mariculture Demonstration Center;
  • Dr. Anthony Ostrowski, The Oceanic Institute;
  • Dr. James Szyper, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology;
  • Dr. Albert Tacon, The Oceanic Institute;
  • Mr. Howard Takata, Sea Grant Extension Service, University of Hawaii
  • Dr. Clyde Tamaru, Sea Grant Extension Service, University of Hawaii.
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