Location	Funding	Institution	Principal Investigator(s)
Hawaii	$55,200	University of Hawaii, Hilo	Maria Haws, Ph.D.

Overall Project Goal

The goal of this project is to develop more reliable and less expensive methods to produce triploids and tetraploids so producers do not have to rely on outside entities.

Objectives

Year 1 and 2
1. Conduct innovative research to improve production methods for triploid and tetraploid Pacific Oysters and refine and clarify published methods to suit conditions of local hatcheries.
2. Develop a pool of tetraploid specimens to be used as broodstock for Hawai`i’s hatcheries and farms. This will also support on-going efforts to selectively breed an improved oyster line(s) for Hawai`i conditions. Each farm will maintain its own tetraploid reserve which can serve as the foundation for selective breeding of lines suited for individual farms’ conditions. This will also benefit West Coast farms since Hawai`i can generate and supply broodstock more rapidly and at any time of the yea.
3. Conduct outreach to farmers, hatchery operations, students and other stakeholders. Publish clear and complete guidelines for production of triploids and tetraploids oysters allowing stakeholders access to the protocols. Although a wealth of scientific literature exists for these topics, none of it is sufficiently complete or detailed to allow others to reliably replicate the stated methods.