Oceanic Institute high-density shrimp production system produces more with less

By Helen Alton
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Oceanic Institute lost millions in federal funding last year in the controversy over the congressional practice of earmarking funds for projects, but it will receive $3.1 million in earmarked federal money this fiscal year.

The funds support the U.S. Marine Shrimp Farming Program, a consortium of seven institutions led by the Makapuu research facility to develop a competitive domestic shrimp farming industry.

Two decades of steady funding have allowed the institute to develop a disease-free shrimp breeding program, said Oceanic President Bruce Anderson.

The program received $4.1 million in earmarked federal funds in fiscal 2006 but was one of the casualties of the move to eliminate earmarks last year, he said.

"One of the things earmarks allow is continued research over many years like shrimp breeding, which takes years to develop new lines of shrimp -- in our case, 20 years," Anderson said. "We have invested a tremendous amount of time and energy in the shrimp breeding program. It is known throughout the world as the premier shrimp breeding program today."

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