Could fishponds help with Hawaii's food sustainability?

According to historical accounts, loko i'a can create surplus fish inside the pond, but their role as a nursery ground seeding surrounding fish populations has received less attention.

"We have demonstrated the ability of Indigenous aquaculture systems to produce a surplus of fish as well as supplement fisheries in the surrounding estuary," said lead author and marine biology PhD candidate Anne Innes-Gold. "We have heard people voice the idea that historically, loko i'a provided nursery grounds that may have supplemented fish populations in the estuary. Our study is the first that we are aware of to demonstrate this idea in academic literature."

Hawaii's unique aquaculture system

The Indigenous aquaculture systems found in Hawaii boast a design found nowhere else in the world, and are among the most productive and diverse of their kind. Loko i'a historically yielded nearly 2 million pounds of fish annually, and hoa'ina (land tenants) and kia'i (caretakers) initially managed them with a "take what you need" mentality to ensure the resource persisted. Most loko i'a were destroyed in the 20th century, and by 1994 only six of 500 historical loko i'a were still operating.

"As aquaculture continues to provide a growing proportion of our seafood globally, revival of Indigenous aquaculture systems will be beneficial to sustainably maintain and increase our seafood supply," said Innes-Gold.

Restoration success story

One success story of loko i'a restoration is the He'eia Fishpond, located in Windward O'ahu and stewarded by Native Hawaiian nonprofit, Paepae o He'eia. Their mission is to link Indigenous knowledge with contemporary management to promote cultural sustainability and restore and maintain a loko i'a for the local community. The benefits of restoring loko i'a and related systems can help boost local food production, and provide community members with a space to nourish their bodies and minds, connect with 'ina, practice reciprocity and promote cultural education.

This work was funded by Hawaii Sea Grant, the He'eia National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the National Marine Fisheries Service-Sea Grant Fellowship in Population and Ecosystem Dynamics. With their foundational work complete, Innes-Gold and her team plan to simulate potential climate change impacts in a loko i'a system.