Hawaii Super Sucker

Hawaii Super Sucker The Super Sucker is a mobile underwater pump-vacuum system used to remove invasive algae from Hawaii Super Sucker has been working in the bay since 2006.

The Super Sucker barge is a mobile vacuum system operated by the State of Hawaii’s Aquatic Invasive Species Team (AIS), within the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), Department of Land and Natural Resources. DAR has partnered with the University of Hawaii and The Nature Conservancy to manage and operate the Super Sucker. How It Works:
The Super Sucker removes algae using suction generated from a

pump system housed on a pontoon barge. Divers gently remove the invasive algae from reefs and feed it into a long hose attached to the pump. The pump sucks the algae back to the barge and onto a sorting table where it is bagged. Bags of algae are delivered to local farmers who use the nutrient rich algae as fertilizer on crops such as taro and sweet potatoes. Smothering Seaweed is high in potassium and is believed to repel insects from crops. Our Targets:
The barge is designed to target two invasive species within Kaneohe Bay: Smothering Seaweed (Kappaphycus / Eucheuma), and Gorilla Ogo (Gracilaria salicornia). Smothering Seaweed gets its name from its ability to overgrow reefs and kill coral. It was originally introduced to Kaneohe Bay as an experimental aquaculture crop and has since become a menace to reef ecosystems in the bay. Gorilla Ogo also forms in large mats over reefs and smothers coral colonies. Gorilla Ogo was introduced as an aquaculture crop to be used in limu poke and has proliferated throughout Oahu, Molokai, and Hawaii. Our Progress:
Invasive algae has been growing in Kaneohe Bay for more than 30 years. Many reefs throughout the bay are highly affected by their spread. The pump system can remove hundreds of pounds of algae an hour, and in 2010 removed over 98,000 pounds of invasive algae. This makes the barge a vital tool in protecting Hawaii’s coral reefs! We have also partnered with DAR's Sea Urchin Hatchery to raise native collector sea urchins as a biocontrol of invasive algae.

Contact Us for Class Presentations for February- Hawaii Invasive Species Awareness Month!
01/27/2021

Contact Us for Class Presentations for February- Hawaii Invasive Species Awareness Month!

07/09/2019

If you are going to this week's Hawaii Conservation Conference, stop by for presentations by AIS Team members Tuesday afternoon!

Kimberly Fuller is presenting at 1:15 on enhancing native species relisiance and at 2:00 on using iNaturalist for reporting invasive species through citizen science, Dan Lager will be presenting at 1:30 on Salvinia molesta in Kauai watersheds, and Natalie Dunn is presenting at 1:45 on reef restoration strategies.

Attention HCC 2018 attendees! Stop by the Symposium "From Research to Regulation: An Evolving Blueprint to Manage Aquati...
07/23/2018

Attention HCC 2018 attendees! Stop by the Symposium "From Research to Regulation: An Evolving Blueprint to Manage Aquatic Invasive Species in Hawaiʻi". Many of our Division of Aquatic Resource staff will be speaking. Tomorrow from 1pm- 2:45pm Room 314.

Last month the AIS team removed marine debris from patch reefs in Kaneohe Bay. Marine debris poses a threat to marine li...
04/10/2018

Last month the AIS team removed marine debris from patch reefs in Kaneohe Bay. Marine debris poses a threat to marine life and can cause habitat degradation (coral breakage/ smothering). Marine debris can also transport aquatic invasive species! Remember to keep an eye out for Japanese Tsunami Marine Debris (JTMD) and to report JTMD! To learn more please visit .

Come see Jules Kuo, the State of Hawaii's Ballast Water and Hull Fouling Coordinator, speak about preventing the introdu...
02/21/2018

Come see Jules Kuo, the State of Hawaii's Ballast Water and Hull Fouling Coordinator, speak about preventing the introduction and transfer of AIS this Thursday at Hanauma Bay! Almost 80% of marine introduced species are from hull fouling and ballast water. Take advantage of the last week of Hawaii Invasive Species Awareness Month with this free public talk!

Join us this Thursday for a free public talk about aquatic invasive species in Hawai'i!

02/13/2018

Join us Thursday for a free public talk about invasive marine species in Hawai'i!

02/13/2018

This Thursday come see Scott Godwin speak about Marine Alien Species in Hawaii! The talk starts at 6:30 at Hanauma Bay, and there is free parking for the event.

02/09/2018

Tonight at Hanauma Bay!

Come see "Laulima" a talk about the AIS team's community projects and involvement in managing Aquatic Invasive Species t...
02/08/2018

Come see "Laulima" a talk about the AIS team's community projects and involvement in managing Aquatic Invasive Species tonight at 6:30 pm at Hanauma Bay! Watch all the talks for Hawaii Invasive Species Awareness Month at Hanauma Bay from home at

Do you enjoy learning? Are you interested in the natural world? Are you curious about environmental science, research, and management in Hawai`i? The Hanauma...

01/30/2018

Start off Hawaii Invasive Species Awareness Month right! Come and see Josh Atwood speak about the Hawaii Invasive Species Council this Thursday at Hanauma Bay at 6:30 pm.

February is Hawaii Invasive Species Awareness Month! Attend Invasive Species Talks at Hanauma Bay every Thursday from 6:...
01/11/2018

February is Hawaii Invasive Species Awareness Month! Attend Invasive Species Talks at Hanauma Bay every Thursday from 6:30pm to 7:30pm next month.

The State of Hawaii: Aquatic Invasive Species Team recently published their guide on which non-native species to look ou...
01/03/2018

The State of Hawaii: Aquatic Invasive Species Team recently published their guide on which non-native species to look out for and document on . Sign up and participate in documenting the invasion!

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Coconut Island
Kaneohe, HI
96744

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