Aquaculture experts to gather in Hawai'i
By Sean Hao
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hawai'i's growing aquaculture industry — annual sales of about $25 million — hosts the World Aquaculture Society's triennial conference this week with about 4,000 in attendance.
Hawai'i ranks among the top 15 states in aquaculture sales, said John Corbin, manager for the state Department of Agriculture's aquaculture development program.
"Our aquaculture industry is pretty well known," he said. "Hopefully we'll be getting even bigger."
Hawai'i's niche has been in the sale of algae, which is used in nutritional supplements sold by companies such as Kona-based Cyanotech, high-quality seafood produced by companies such as Big Island Abalone, and pathogen-free shrimp broodstock produced by Kona-based High Health Aquaculture Inc. among others.
The World Aquaculture Society meets every year and every third year hosts a larger gathering that includes the American Fisheries Society and the National Shellfisheries Association. The event, which started yesterday and continues through Friday at the Hawai'i Convention Center, provides exposure for Hawai'i's aquaculture industry while allowing collaboration among local and international researchers.
"It's quite significant ," said Tom Farewell, president and chief executive for the Oceanic Institute. "Not only is it always good to have the visibility for Hawai'i, but ... more importantly we have the opportunity to develop technical interchange with some of the leading scientists.
"It allows us to stay on the cutting edge."
This is the first time Hawai'i will host the larger triennial gathering but marks the third time the state has hosted the World Aquaculture Society's annual meeting, which was previously held here in 1979 and 1988. This time around the state's aquaculture industry can claim to be a more significant factor in the state's economy. In 2002, the most recent year for which figures are available, aquaculture sales grew 13 percent to $25.2 million making it the sixth largest diversified agriculture sector statewide.
Hawai'i's aquaculture industry gets a boost from research groups such as the Oceanic Institute and the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology on O'ahu as well as the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority on the Big Island, which hosts about 30 tenant companies that perform research and develop commercial products.
During the conference, visiting researchers will tour several research facilities and commercial operations. Overall World Aquaculture 2004 allows local farmers access to new industry research while giving scientists insight into the needs of farmers.
"It brings farmers as well as research experts from around the world together to share information so we can take advantage of it here," said Ron Weidenbach, president of the Hawaii Aquaculture Association. "It also allows us to showcase what we're doing in Hawai'i to the world."
More information on World Aquaculture 2004 can be found on at www.was.org.
Reach Sean Hao at shao@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8093.
