Hawai'i faces a number of constraints to commercial aquaculture development. It is the most isolated archipelago on the planet, with 2,500 miles (or 5 hours of airfreight time) to reach the West Coast of the USA. It has a relatively small potential market (population 1.1 million; with an additional 7 million tourists per year). Land, freshwater, electricity and labor are all expensive. There is strong regulatory oversight, a cumbersome bureaucracy, and a tax structure that together have earned the state the nickname of "The People's Socialist Republic of Hawai'i". There is also a history of anti-development activism that has - in the past - thwarted both commercial and research projects, such as Deep Ocean CO2 sequestration trials, the Superferry, and (possibly) the Thirty Meter Telescope.
Despite these odds, however, Hawai'i has become a leader nationally - and internationally - in the development of offshore aquaculture. There are several countervailing attributes to the islands: there is a strong cultural tradition of aquaculture through the ancient Hawai'ian fishpond system; in some locations, offshore waters are literally a stone's throw from the shoreline; there are protected lee waters behind most of the islands, protecting them from prevailing trade winds and seas; there is an abundance of maritime, fishing and diving expertise; there is legislative, regulatory and community support for the expansion of local seafood supplies; and there were some pioneering visionaries in the 1990's who helped bring the industry to fruition.
The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) and the surrounding waters of the Kona Coast are particularly conducive to innovative offshore aquaculture R&D and commercial development. Kona waters are relatively protected from trade winds and winter swells, yet provide access to truly offshore conditions within 200 m of the coastline. NELHA's land-based incubator and commercialization park facilities provide reticulated deep seawater and surface seawater, as well as pre-approval for most aquaculture activities.
This presentation will review the history of offshore aquaculture R&D in Hawai'i, and explore the reasons why the industry has gained a foothold here. The presentation will then discuss current and future needs for the continued expansion of both the R&D efforts, and commercial culture in the offshore realm.