This biology investigation on Pristipomoides filamentosus larval development, survival, and aquaculture research
was developed with three educational objectives: to provide high school students with (1) a scientific
background on the biology and science of fisheries as well as overfishing, its consequences, and possible
mitigations; (2) exposure to field and laboratory techniques in marine science; and (3) practical skills in scientific
inquiry and investigation. We teach this investigation at the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, where we
have access to captive broodstock of the pink snapper, P. filamentosus. During this investigation students follow
several steps scientists take to study aquaculture: collecting spawn from outdoor fish pens, quantifying the
number of eggs, determining the percentage of fertilisation, and estimating the time of spawning and hatching.
Additionally, students perform hypothesis-driven science activities with the embryos to test the effects of water
quality on their development and survival. In this paper we discuss background information of aquaculture,
specifically of P. filamentosus, and thoroughly describe the several components of delivering the investigation.
Lastly, we provide possible outcomes of students’ performances in the laboratory activities, and discuss how
effectively the exercise met its educational objectives.

• Exploring larval development and applications in marine fish aquaculture using pink snapper embryos

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