Hawai'i Fisheries Initiative - The Hawaii Institute for Public Affairs

More than 30 species of plants and
animals have been successfully grown in
Hawai‘i’s fresh and ocean waters. Spirulina
and Hematococus microalgae, used in
aquaculture feed additives and for human
nutritional supplements, were the leading
species in terms of value, generating
$11 million in farm sales in 2003. Cyanotech,
from its 90-acre facility on the Big Island,
leads the pack in terms of sales. Other
aquaculture products include shellfish
such as marine shrimp, freshwater prawns,
crayfish, lobsters, oysters, clams, snails,
and abalone; finfish such as Japanese
flounder, Chinese catfish, tilapia, carp,
mullet, moi (threadfin), awa (milkfish); as
well as shellfish and finfish seedstock and
broodstock (babies or parent animals). 114
Asia is projected to lead in the development
of aquaculture operations, and Hawai‘i is
in prime position as a source of technical
expertise and training, as well as education.
Targeted sectors for commercial aquaculture
production include high-value seafood
products for local consumption and
export; algae or seaweeds for food or
specialty chemicals; pathogen-free
broodstock and seedstock; marine and
freshwater aquarium species for export;
and offshore and open-ocean production
of fish and shellfish. 115
Hawai‘i’s aquaculture industry is
divided into two sectors: commercial
production and research and technology
transfer (research, training, education,
and consulting). In the late 1980s, the
information sector of the industry outpaced
production revenues. Of the $10 million
generated annually, major contributors
were federal research grants (50 percent),
state research (10 percent), and private
research and consulting companies
(40 percent). 116 In 2003, the research and
technology transfer sector generated
$12 million, while the commercial
production sector generated $27.7 million.
Photo courtesy Aquaculture Development Program
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