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Maui Ocean Center's Fish Initiative

Oregon State University / Flickr
Oregon State University / Flickr

The Maui Ocean Center is trying to limit its effect on wild aquarium fish.

The center announced it is planning to acquire and display captive-bred aquarium fish in coming years.

Officials hope that by 2020 – about 20 percent of the center’s marine life with be acquired from aquaculture facilities.

John Gorman is the Curator of the Maui Ocean Center.

He says the captive breeding of aquarium fish is a very complicated process…and because it’s not a commercial industry – it can cost up to 3 times more than a fish caught in the wild.

But he says the price is worth it.

Gorman says the center will be getting a group of Yellow Tangs, raised at a Hawaii Pacific University facility in Waimanalo sometime this week.

He adds that he is in contact with several local scientists that are working on captive breeding projects. 

Casey Harlow was an HPR reporter and occasionally filled in as local host of Morning Edition and All Things Considered.
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