THE CENTER FOR TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL AQUACULTURE (CTSA) IS ONE OF FIVE REGIONAL AQUACULTURE CENTERS (RACS) ESTABLISHED UNDER THE FOOD SECURITY ACT OF 1985 (SUBTITLE L, SEC. 1475 [D]). THE MISSION OF CTSA, LIKE THAT OF THE OTHER RACS, IS TO SUPPORT AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, DEMONSTRATION, AND EXTENSION EDUCATION TO ENHANCE VIABLE AND PROFITABLE U.S. AQUACULTURE. UNDER THIS PROJECT, CTSA, WHICH IS ADMINISTERED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII, WILL CULTIVATE AND SUPPORT RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ACTIVITIES THAT IN TURN WILL DEVELOP AND TRANSFER NEW AND ADAPTED TECHNOLOGY TO INDUSTRY IN HAWAII AND THE U.S. AFFILIATED PACIFIC ISLANDS (USAPI). THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE INDUSTRY ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE OVERSEE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND HELP TRACK ACCOMPLISHMENTS TOWARD CTSA'S STATED MISSION. WE USE A REGION-WIDE AND MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL APPROACH TO ESTABLISH ESSENTIAL RESEARCH TEAMS FOR AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT AND/OR TO TACKLE PROBLEMS THAT ARE IMPEDING THE GROWTH OF THE AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY IN THE USAPI. EACH YEAR, CTSA FUNDS AN AVERAGE OF SIX PROJECTS THROUGH THE GRANT WE RECEIVE FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (NIFA). EACH PROJECT IS REVIEWED BY A PANEL OF EXPERTS TO ENSURE ITS APPROACH IS SCIENTIFICALLY SOUND AND ITS RESULTS WILL DIRECTLY AND/OR INDIRECTLY ENHANCE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR AQUACULTURE PRODUCERS IN THE REGION.