Hawai‘i’s food system is highly dependent on imports—between 85-90% of Hawai‘i’s food is imported. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored Hawaii’s fragility, reliance on imports, and lack of food security as supply chain disruptions and consumer panic purchasing resulted in empty grocery shelves during the pandemic’s early months. As such, public opinion is shifting towards a more food secure Hawai‘ i and locally grown agriculture and aquaculture efforts are finding more support in the state legislature and community.
In 2021, t he University of Hawai‘ i Sea Grant College Program established a Hawai‘i Aquaculture Collaborative (HAC) whose membership consists of 100+ industry leaders representing Hawai‘i’s diverse aquaculture subsectors including Hawaiian fishpond practitioners, land-based freshwater producers, land-based seawater producers, open ocean producers, processors, consultants, an accelerator/incubator, and an industry association. An additional 20+ support partners include K-12 and post-secondary schools, researchers, government agencies, legislators, and other aquaculture stakeholders across the state. The HAC is tasked with identifying industry-related priorities and developing/implementing initiatives and solutions to advance those priorities. Support partners are being engaged to leverage their strengths and resources to support these industry-driven initiatives.
Collaborative activities conducted to date include: 1) engaging policymakers and government agencies on industry priorities through written communication and meetings; 2) developing and distributing an Aqua+Culture video, which premiered at a 150-person event titled “What’s the Catch? Cultivating Hawaii’s Seafood Future” in June 2022 and was distributed through a local television station, Hawaiian Airlines inflight programming, and social media; 3) a monthly collaboration with the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaiʻi Authority to offer a virtual Tech and Research Brown Bags seminar; and 5) creating the Collaborative’s website (hiaquacollab.org), which catalogues events, actions, membership, and employment opportunities; and 6) conducting an inventory of aquaculture training programs in Hawai‘i.