Each person has their own standards of beauty and the large colorful Japanese Koi are enjoyed by residents and visitors. If a person earned the wealth to purchase near ocean properties and prefer to grow Koi or other food fish in the natural anchialine ponds, shouldn’t they have a right to do so? If corporations want to build resorts, should the law be different from a private residential landowner? These are questions that Hawaii is struggling to find reasonable answers.
There are times when ponds seem to have a huge abundance of opae-ula while at other times very few are seen. Our observation and study suggests an explanation. We believe that opae-ula are seen in abundance when they are close to the natural population limit of the pond as determined by the amount of food available. It is likely that the food supply fluctuates and that temperature affects the breeding cycle. If the food supply increases due to seasonal or other factors, it is likely that the opae-ula will molt and start their breeding cycle. They will then migrate to their underground crevices until they release their eggs. A few weeks later, a large number of post-larval juvenile are noticed.
Opae-ula are very sociable and cluster tightly together. In aquarium tanks with sponge filters, they concentrate on the filters and it is likely that they are feeding on the filter bacteria. This is also noticed in the Micro-Lobster breeding tanks at Fuku-Bonsai. At times, an entire tank seems almost empty, but the few that are seen are red. When the tank is fed, pale Micro-Lobsters emerge to feed. The majority are pale and well over 90% were in the molting — breeding — egg-laying activity.
RAPID OPAE-ULA DECLINE!
Micro-Lobster is Fuku-Bonsai’s tradename for the creature specifically identified as “Halocaridina rubra Holthius 1963.” Opae-ula is a victim of development that accelerated after Hawaiian statehood in 1959. It was only scientifically described and identified in 1963. A few years later the Queen Kaahumanu Highway on the Big Island directly connected the port of Kawaihae to Kailua-Kona, The highway created the Kona-Kohala “Gold Coast” that is steadily becoming the premier Hawaii State visitor destination area.
The Big Island is the last major Hawaiian island to be developed and we want the Big Island reflect the best of Hawaiian culture and values. While several of the resorts have done laudatory work, Mauna Lani Bay & Bungalows has created an exemplary resort with deep sensitivity. There, the anchialine ponds and the ancient fishponds are lovingly preserved and celebrated. We congratulate and commend Kenneth Brown and his associates for their great work. Future articles in this website will tell more about their efforts.
The largest number of anchialine ponds are located on the Big Island of Hawaii. Prior to the opening of Queen Kaahumanu Highway, a survey found that the anchialine ponds were in pristine condition. Since the highway opened, additional roads have been built and much of the coastline is now accessible. The anchialine ponds have suffered and it is estimated that on a statewide basis, over 95% of the anchialine ponds can no longer support opae-ula!
As resorts and roads are built, ponds are filled. Some are converted into beautifully landscaped fish ponds and the fish clean out the opae-ula. Other ponds are used for recreation and bathing and become polluted. Fishermen throw their left over live bait shrimp into the ponds. When guppies, mollies, tilapia and other exotic fish are thrown into the ponds, they also eat the opae-ula. Without the opae-ula, the algae in the ponds overgrow and with increase growth of exotic plants and weeds, pond are compromised. It is clear that opae-ula cannot flourish when under pressure of predators.
The exotic fish can be eliminated using rotenone. Even before the rotenone dissipates, the opae-ula start to recolonize the ponds. The challenge is to establish management priorities as to what will be allowed to live in the anchialine ponds. Fortunately community and school groups are adopting ponds and restoring them. Rotenone is effective in removing exotic fish and even before it dissipates, the opae-ula return. There is need for preservation, education, and restoration. There’s also a need to research and develop mass culture systems.
OPAE-ULA CHARACTERISTICS
There are several anchialine pond shrimp. Opae-ula are the most numerous and believed to be the only herbivore that feeds primarily on the alga mat and bacteria. It will also eat insects that fall into the pond. Native Hawaiians once fed them vegetable foods including sweet potato, taro, and breadfruit. It is believed that all other anchialine pond shrimp are carnivores which feed upon opae-ula. Opae-ula are different from the others in being small, social, and a herbivore that feeds principally on the alga mat and bacteria. They are filter feeders and have been known to mass feed on the water surface in such numbers that the water appears red. This may be the basis of Hawaiian legends that tell of “water turning into blood.”
The second most numerous anchialine pond specie is larger, has prominent pinchers like a Maine lobster, and is much more difficult to maintain in an aquarium. As part of our general research, we’ve prepared a landscaped tank with an undergravel biological filter with a breeding colony of opae-ula. We will introduce several “Anchialine Pond Predator Shrimp” to study how the two species interact, to determine whether the Predator Shrimp is exclusively carnivorous, and if the two species can co-exist.
There are relatively few published scientific papers on opae-ula and this website is already the largest source of opae-ula information easily accessible to anyone. At times the ponds seem totally empty, but at other times they appear in such numbers that the bottom of the shallow ponds appear red with an estimated density of fifty in a single square inch! They are extremely sociable creatures and never seen fighting. It is believed that their epogeal activity in the bright anchialine ponds are for soaking up the sun and storing away energy.
Opae-ula have very sensitive nervous systems and are known to die from shock when a tank falls or if subjected to a very loud noise. They seem to need places to quickly and easily hide, and if given those places, they quickly gain confidence and half or more may be visible most of the time. They very quickly adapt to some tanks and exhibit very comfortable behavior in full visibility. They will usually be in groups on the top of rocks with many engaged in swimming laps. Generally, Fuku-Bonsai’s Micro-Lobster breeder tanks have this type of behavior and the creatures seem to become comfortable in their new home within a day or two after being shipped.
But in other tanks they are almost always hiding and exhibiting very skittish behavior. Movements are very jerky and at times, several may explosively propel themselves backwards in a move that we’ve come to call “pop-corning!” Members of our Micro-Lobster Team include those who have both our breeder tanks and other opae-ula jars or aquariums. Several have grown them longer than we have and through email correspondence, they’re sharing their knowledge.
As another issue, should the collection of opae-ula be regulated like other fish stocks to prevent over harvesting? Should there be limits to the amount an individual can collect for non-commercial usage? Should the laws requiring commercial licenses be enforced if opae-ula are sold? For the past several years in Hawaii, opae-ula ecosystems and aquariums have increasingly been sold in stores and at craft fairs. Current Hawaii law requires both commercial collectors and dealers to be licensed, but most do not know of the regulations and the law is not being enforced. Fuku-Bonsai complies with all lawful regulations and this is detailed in a Micro-Lobster portal section titled: REGULATIONS & CHALLENGES.
Fuku-Bonsai has already begun a captive breeding program and will increasingly be moving toward building mass culture systems. We will also promote Micro-Lobster Breeder Tanks to individuals and educational institutions. We are confident that these will assure that these lovable creatures will never face extinction!
I LOVE MY TEACHERS!!!!!!
