The first cohort of the at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa includes 14 students, seven of whom are supported through from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Hawaiʻi (DAR) and a Hawaiʻi-based philanthropic organization. Students and their 糖心Vlog官方 advisors will work collaboratively with the sponsoring agencies and Hawaiʻi communities on their graduate research projects.
“It is really encouraging to see the significant support for this new program from the community and the state and federal agencies we partner with,” said Jeff Drazen, sustainable fisheries program graduate chair and oceanography professor in the 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa (SOEST). “Welcoming the first cohort of students is an exciting milestone, and having this level of community collaboration will really advance our goal of ensuring sustainable fisheries for people throughout the Pacific.”
The incoming students receiving fellowships are Kai Holdaway, Alexander Jemal, Ashley Meara, Kahakuhailoa Poepoe, Mackenzie Thielmann, Andrea Vega and Jake Zikan. Of the seven students, six will pursue master’s degrees, and one will pursue a doctoral degree; two are from Hawaiʻi, and five are from the U.S. continent.
Students address fisheries near and far
Supported by one of two DAR Fellowships, Thielmann’s research will focus on finding “nursery” areas where young fish grow along Oʻahu’s coastlines to help protect future fish populations. By analyzing a large state dataset, Thielmann will identify where juvenile fish are most common and see if these “hotspots” match up with where legal-sized adult fish live. This project will use advanced science to ensure that culturally important reef fish remain abundant for local families and fishers. Further, this will help DAR create better fishing rules and habitat protections.
One of the four fellowships supported by the in Honolulu, awarded to Holdaway, will support building a computer model that predicts where the Hawaiʻi longline fishing fleet might shift to as ocean conditions and fishing laws change. By analyzing vessel data and interviewing fishers, Holdaway wants to understand how factors like earnings, weather, and mapping tools influence a captain’s decisions. Ultimately, this work seeks to balance catching target fish with avoiding protected species to ensure a healthier marine ecosystem.
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–By Marcie Grabowski