Shift of UH fisheries program to Hilo worries Manoa faculty

University of Hawaii at Manoa professors are raising concerns about the loss of a federally funded fisheries cooperative, which will move to UH-Hilo, leaving the system’s flagship campus without a fisheries program.

The relocation is being finalized, but officials could not say when the move would happen.

The research cooperative, which was established at UH-Manoa in 1966, is recognized as a leader in fisheries conservation science and provides much-needed expertise to the state, city, nonprofits and other entities, said those in favor of keeping the unit in Manoa.

UH President M.R.C. Greenwood, meanwhile, believes the move will benefit the program’s long-term future. In a statement, UH spokeswoman Lynne Waters said: "To realize its full potential, the unit needs involvement from multiple islands and multiple campuses. We’re confident that headquartering the unit at UH-Hilo will facilitate that."

The move will require the unit’s assistant team leader, Alan Friedlander, to relocate — if he remains with the cooperative. The U.S. Geological Survey, which funds faculty positions with the research unit and provides the use of equipment, has not filled a second vacant position with the cooperative and is not expected to do so until the move is finalized.

UNDER the cooperative, UH-Manoa offers lab and office space and administrative support, in exchange for the two funded positions and access to boats, vehicles and other equipment. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources also provides financial and other support.

Cooperative units are coveted by universities because they offer campuses teaching staff at no cost and attract a host of grants and talented graduate students. There are 40 such federally funded units nationwide.

Friedlander said the fisheries unit at Manoa "will be missed."

He teaches the only fisheries graduate courses at the campus.

Friedlander said the cooperative has trained a number of Hawaii leaders in fisheries science, including some 43 people who graduated with master’s degrees and 13 who received doctoral degrees. Six students are studying under Friedlander, including three doctoral students.

In December, the Manoa Faculty Senate passed a resolution urging Greenwood to reconsider the research unit’s move to UH-Hilo, where there is no doctoral program in biological sciences offered.

UH-Manoa biology professors have also weighed in, telling Manoa administrators in a letter that the unit’s relocation will have "immediate and future adverse effects on our academic and research programs."