A principal characteristic of the Regional Aquaculture Centers (RAC) is that it is guided by industry concerns and after consultation with appropriate technical experts, responds with a program of directed research that targets priorities established by members of the industry. To assure that this focus on industry needs is maintained, CTSA’s charter specifies creation of an IAC to provide an open forum through which those involved in the business of aquaculture can provide comments, suggestions and advice. With the approval of the Board of Directors, the contributions of the IAC can be incorporated into annual and ongoing plans for CTSA.

The IAC:

  • reports the status and needs of aquaculture development in their represented region or field of interest and expertise;
  • recommends and ranks, according to perceived importance to industry expansion, research and development needs each year;
  • reviews pre-proposals to determine if they address the appropriate problem;
  • annually elects a chair from its eligible membership to conduct the annual IAC meeting and present recommendations regarding proposals to the Board based on reviewers’ comments. The chair shall serve as a voting member on the Board of Directors;
  • assigns members to serve as industry liaisons for each project. Liaisons will monitor progress through quarterly project updates and other reports from the projects’ principal investigators (PIs). Liaisons will collaborate with project PIs to report on the progress of projects at the annual meeting;

Name Business/Organization Island Member Since
David Cohen Aquatic Innovations Honolulu, Oahu 2004
John Corbin Aquaculture Planning & Advocacy Kaneohe, Oahu 2009
Miguel A. Delos Santos CyanTech Solutions Koror, Palau 2022
Suzi Dominy Aquafeed.com Kailua, Oahu 2015
Linda Gusman Island Aquaculture Kaneohe, Oahu 1993
Masahiro Ito Aquaculture Consultant Pacific Islands 2015
David Kawahigashi Vannamei 101 Rawai, Phuket 2009
Brian Leonida BnB Nursery Waianae, Oahu 2015
Jennica Lowell-Hawkins Ocean Era, Inc Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 2009
Anthony Mau Kupu Place LLC, Kualoa Ranch Honolulu, Oahu 2021
Fred Mencher Hawaii Fish Co. Honolulu, Oahu 2015
Ryan Murashige Aquaculture Technologies of the Marshall Islands Inc. Marshall Islands 2010
Michael Ogo Northern Marianas College CREES CNMI 2015
Federico Rotman Blue Ocean Mariculture Kailua_kona, Hawaii 2022
Benny Paulino San Nicolas Guam Department of Education, Retired Teacher Guam 2020
Ron Weidenbach Hawaii Fish Company Waialua, Oahu 1992
Richard Xie Hawaiian Sea Life, Inc. Honolulu, Oahu 2009