Citing a need to focus energies on an aquaculture and livestock feed research project that could pay significant dividends for Hawaii, as well as other domestic and international concerns, the Oceanic Institute is reorganizing leadership to help move that project forward.

Anthony C. Ostrowski, Oceanic Institute president and point person on the project, will move into a new role as executive for the OI Feed Mill Program, while Shaun Moss, vice president of Research and Development and lead scientist for the institute, will replace Ostrowski as acting president and co-chief executive officer. Moss supervises the institute’s world-famous shrimp program, which is also drawing strong international interest, especially in Asia.

Janet Kloenhamer has been named co-chief executive officer of OI to provide additional managerial leadership for the institute. Kloenhamer is also general counsel of Hawai‘i Pacific University (HPU), with which OI has been an affiliated partner for the past 10 years.

The moves were announced today by the OI Board of Trustees through Chairman Geoffrey Bannister.

OI has been researching feed mill technologies for several years for both aquaculture and agriculture uses. The project is considered to have special potential for a state in which ever-escalating costs of feed for both livestock and shrimp have led to sharp declines in local production and increases in food costs. The technologies under development could make sustainable, low-cost feed supplies available in Hawaii, elsewhere across the United States and abroad.

Oceanic Institute traces its history to 1960, when it was established on the windward side of O‘ahu as the Makapuu Oceanic Center on a 56-acre seafront site. Its aquarium and visitor operations were spun off into a separate entity, Sea Life Park, in 1972, with research and education continuing under the name of the Oceanic Institute. A staff of more than 50 professionals work at the OI, which is overseen by an eight-member board of trustees.