UH Sea Grant Program fills American Samoa post
John Gonzales has been hired by the University of Hawaii Sea Grant Program to fill a vacant American Samoa extension agent position at the American Samoa Community College.
Gonzales recently received a master's degree from Purdue University where he studied the suitability of Nile tilapia as a possible source of nutrition for astronauts on long space missions.
He also worked with Dr. Jim Rakocy at the University of the Virgin Islands in St. Croix, investigating how to spawn and rear tilapia in green water and aquaponic commercial production systems.
The Samoa extension agent position was created in 2002 through a partnership among U.S. Rep. Eni Hunkin Faleomavaega, American Samoa Community College President Adele Satele-Galea'i and Dr. E. Gordon Grau, UH Sea Grant director, to promote agriculture development in the territory.
Gonzales also will serve as an instructor in the community college's Marine Science Department.
"I hope to provide the expertise and enthusiasm required to promote the growth of the aquaculture industry while also providing opportunities for students and the community to obtain knowledge and skills through hands-on experiences," Gonzales said.