Turbidity measurements in Molii Loko, Kaneohe Bay, O'ahu. The value of 0.5 NTU is the maximum allowable for the surrounding waters. Because of their historic and cultural significance and economic potential, traditional Hawaiian fishponds have been the subject of numerous investigations. With funding from the University of Hawai'i Sea Grant College Program, Maui County Office of Economic Development, Sea Grant Extension Service and Aquaculture Development Program, a study is underway to demonstrate that Hawaiian fishponds, managed traditionally as extensive aquaculture, will have no long-term detrimental effect to surrounding coastal waters.
Extensive aquaculture is a method of using the natural productivity of a pond to produce fish.
Samples of water from within and from discharge effluent waters outside two fishponds currently in production and two fishponds that are still intact but not in production are being assessed and characterized. In addition, the water quality variables of two demonstration fishponds designated by the State for repair and reconstruction are being monitored during the restoration process. Hawaii is the only known location in Oceania where early inhabitants practiced a true form of aquaculture long before the establishment of modern-day science. Hawaiian fishponds, such as the one presented in Figure 2, evolved over 700 years ago into a unique and highly sophisticated form of aquaculture. Water was diverted and contained for irrigated agriculture and aquaculture and thus the Hawaiian fishponds became an integral part of a large and complex subsistence economy.