Promising aquaculture
industry must be rescuedBill cutting state support
could destroy an industry that's already
swimming against tideBy Dennis Yee AS the world's food resources diminish and the human population continues its upward spiral, aquaculture becomes important as a means of increasing our food supply. On a global level, if our ocean resources are used wisely, we can alleviate the projected famines looming ahead.
Modern aquaculture in Hawaii began in the late 1960s with the introduction and development of the giant fresh-water Malaysian prawn. Today, the "Hawaiian" prawn remains popular locally.
Since then, diversification into other aquaculture products such as seaweed, finfish and other shellfish has helped stabilize individual businesses in the event of catastrophes such as floods, droughts, disease, electrical failures, etc.
Nonetheless, in Hawaii, as in other areas of the world, modern aquaculture remains a fledgling industry.
It is unlikely to generate the amount of revenue as tourism or ever reach the scale of the once-flourishing sugar and pineapple industries. Yet aquaculture will remain an integral part of our culture, and requires the support of the state to help diversify our economy.
Locally, many aquaculture ventures have "failed." Amfac's freshwater prawn venture, Tap Pryor's oyster venture, Fowler Co.'s red tilapia project, and AmOrient's marine shrimp farm are a few examples.
Nevertheless, many bold entrepreneurs have risked their personal savings and retirement pensions, and are pursuing the dream that their new businesses will be both productive and profitable.
Currently, Cyanotech is culturing Spirulina algae for the health industry, Hawaii Marine Enterprises is culturing limu (seaweed), Kahuku Shrimp Co. is culturing marine shrimp and moi, and Kona Cold Lobster Ltd. is supplying lobsters to local restaurants.
In fact, Hawaii's aquaculture industry has grown from a $2 million industry in 1980 to a $37 million industry in 1997. This does not include the federal research and retail dollars it generates for state coffers.
Local aquaculture researchers are on the cutting edge of research and development of many marine finfish species such as moi, mahimahi, papio and kahala. Only recently have we seen cultured moi, a fish highly prized for its succulent taste, available in local markets.
In old Hawaii, moi was considered kapu, and was reserved only for Hawaiian royalty. Now all of Hawaii's citizens can enjoy this favorite fish, thanks in part to the aquaculture industry. When cultured moi first hit the market, the price was $12 per pound; now you can buy it as cheap as $6.90 per pound.
Aquaculture also has the potential of lowering the cost of desirable species such as kumu and making them more available to the public. If you were to order kumu at your favorite Chinese restaurant today, you would be paying roughly $28 per pound because of its limited supply.
If future aquaculture efforts are successful, kumu, along with other popular fish such as papio, opakapaka and onaga may become available as well. Continued support is needed now from all of us wanting high-quality island fish, shellfish, seaweed and other seafood products.
Clearly, it would be in the best interest of Hawaii, especially during the current economic slump, for this industry to continue its expansion.
Perhaps those failed companies were on the minds of those deciding to withdraw state support for aquaculture through the elimination of the state's Aquaculture Development Program (ADP).
In a way, who can blame them? Simply cut the ADP and save a few bucks.
But we must ask ourselves the serious question, "What are we actually cutting?" Do we want to risk destroying a promising revenue-generating fledgling industry and make our state more dependent on imported food sources?
The state House recently held a hearing on HB 3625. This bill relocates the ADP from the jurisdiction of the Department of Land & Natural Resources (DLNR) to the Department of Agriculture.
In the DLNR, the ADP promotes aquaculture development in the state through legislative, educational, marketing and disease diagnostic services. To the uninformed and/or "unaffected," the ADP appears as a dull, little known program hidden in the vast government warehouse not unlike the last scene from "Raiders of the Lost Ark."
Nevertheless, the ADP is an important part of the success of aquaculture development in Hawaii. HB 3625 has passed its initial hearing and has moved forward, where the pencil pushers in the money committees will wield their power, oblivious to the immediate and long-term consequences.
We can sit back and hope that these decision-makers will review all of the facts and listen to their constituents and support HB 3625. Or we can help them make the right decision by contacting our congressional delegates, writing the governor and contacting our local district representatives.
Express your concerns. Fax them your testimony. Let them know you support the ADP and Hawaii's aquaculturists by supporting HB 3625.
Dennis Yee is a moi farmer who lives in Kaneohe.