Control of the apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata in Hawaii: challenge or opportunity?

• Main Authors: Tamaru, C.S., University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2525 Correa Road, HIG 205, Honolulu HI96822 (USA). School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, Ako, H., University of Hawaii at Manoa, St. John 511, Honolulu, HI 96822 (USA). Coll. of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Tamaru, C.C.T., Hawaii C's Aquaculture Consultant Services 1157 Lunaapoho Place, Kailua HI 96734-4556 (USA)
• Format: Book
• Language: English
• Published: Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija (Philippines) PhilRice 2006
• Subjects: ALIMENTACION DE LOS ANIMALES; ALIMENTATION DES ANIMAUX; ANIMAL FEEDING; BIODIVERSIDAD; BIODIVERSITE; BIODIVERSITY; COLOCASIA ESCULENTA; DISTRIBUCION GEOGRAFICA; DISTRIBUTION GEOGRAPHIQUE; GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION; HAWAI; HAWAII; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_1765; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_33400; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_33949; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_3506; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_429; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_5083; POMACEA CANALICULATA
• ISBN: 9789719080319

The apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata, is an aquatic freshwater snail native to South America. Originally imported to Hawaii as pets for the aquarium trade, they were soon introduced into wetland plots known as lo'i, where taro, Colocasia esculenta, an economically and culturally significant crop, is grown. Some individuals reasoned that the snails, being edible, could be harvested as food, and that raising the snails along with the taro in the lo'i would provide income supplemental to the taro harvest with minimal additional input. This introduction of snails into the taro lo'i, however, proved to be a disaster. Farmers failed to take into account the voracity, reproductive potential and rapid growth of the snails. Because of the ideal conditions in the taro lo'i, the snails multiplied rapidly and fed heavily on the taro shoots and corms, in many cases destroying a complete crop before harvest time. Hindsight has shown that the snails are dissipated via the irrigation system throughout the lo'i and then spread to the surrounding wetland areas. Large breeding populations are now established in wetland areas on the islands of Hawai'i, O'ahu, Raua'i, and Maui. Some of these wetlands are wildlife preserves with state and federal mandates that restrict the potential methods of eradication. Background information is provided on both P. canaliculata and taro in order to fully explain the challenges and opportunities that this situation presents.