Biota Hawaii

Our Palau Location

Oceanic Institute of Hawaii

Pacific University, 41-202 Kalaniana’ole Hwy,
Waimanalo, HI 96795

Address

Biota Palau, PO Box , Hawaii

About Us
  • Multi species hatchery
  • Located inside Oceanic institute
  • Cultured fish
  • Fully licensed for collection, culture and export

Kevin Barden, MSc

General Manager

Kevin received his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University in Environmental Biology/Zoology. After graduating he worked for Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota Florida, culturing live feeds and performing larval fish trials for their foodfish research program.

He then went to Scotland to pursue a Masters in Sustainable Aquaculture at the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture. He partnered his Master’s research with the University of Florida’s Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory in Ruskin, Florida. He then continued on as the broodstock manager for the Rising Tide marine ornamental program, successfully rearing in captivity many species-firsts such as melanurus wrasse and most notably Pacific blue tang.

Kevin came to Biota and Hawaii in early 2019 to pursue his passion in sustainably producing captive bred marine ornamental species for the aquarium trade.

Marion Hauville, PhD

Aquaculture technician

Born and raised in France, Marion received her undergraduate degree in Biology and master’s degree in Marine Sciences from the University of Caen, Normandy.

From there she obtained a doctoral degree from the University of Stirling’s Institute of Aquaculture, Scotland, in partnership with the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida, studying larval and broodstock nutrition in marine finfish. After graduating she joined the team at the University of Florida Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory as a postdoctoral researcher, focusing on larval rearing and copepod culture optimization.

Marion came to Hawaii in early 2019 to add her expertise in live feeds and fish nutrition to the Biota team.

Dr. Chatham Callan

Director of the Finfish Research

Dr. Chatham (Chad) Callan is currently the Director of the Finfish Research Program at Oceanic Institute of Hawaii Pacific University (OI). OI has been a world leader in the development of applied aquaculture technologies for both marine fish and shrimp for over 50 years.

Prior to coming to OI, he received his MS and PhD degrees in Marine Biology from The University of Maine. Chad has been at OI for over 14 years and has researched the culture of numerous marine fish species ranging from Mullet, Jacks, Rabbitfish and Groupers as well as ornamental species such as Dwarf Angelfish and Yellow Tang. In 2015, his lab at OI was the first to successfully culture the Yellow Tang, which is the most commercially important reef species in that region.

His lab continues to refine the culture processes for this, and many other, marine species in aims to provide additional sustainable alternatives to their wild collection.

Liz Groover, MSc

Research Associate of the Finfish Research Program

Liz Groover is the current Research Associate of the Finfish Research Program at Oceanic Institute of Hawaii Pacific University (OI), where she manages the daily operations of the facility including broodstock husbandry, copepod culture, algae culture, and hatchery production.

In 2015, Liz received her Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology from Roger Williams University (RWU) in Rhode Island. Just prior to starting her position at OI, Liz received her Master of Science degree in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from the University of Florida (UF).

Now living and working on the island of Oahu, Liz’s passion for fish aquaculture and tropical marine conservation continues to grow.

Join The Movement!

Sign up for the Biota Bulletin, a newsletter for aquarium keepers who care about conservation.