Restorative or regenerative aquaculture is characterized by the use of aquatic species and aquaculture practices that provide environmental benefits including bioremediation, water quality improvement, shoreline protection and provision of aquatic habitats. Moreover, as natural resources also serve as cultural resources for many Pacific Islanders, restorative aquaculture activities can provide social and cultural benefits as well. Hawaiʻi’s unique circumstances and history continue to shape the development of restorative aquaculture. There are over 1,500 years of history related to the traditional Hawaiian fishponds (loko iʻa) and other cultural practices such as the integrated agriculture-aquaculture in the ahupuaʻa system and marine fish feeding. The U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) also have a long history of successfully culturing native species, such as coral, sponges, pearl oysters, and bivalves that can be used for restorative purposes. Stakeholders in the region are also now taking steps to revive fisheries stock enhancement efforts.
Recent advances have been made in developing native species such as bivalves (e.g. Dendostrea sandvichensis, Pinctada margaritifera), seaweed (e.g. Gracilaria spp., Codium edule) and fish such as Flathead Grey Mullet (Mugil cephalus), Pacific Flagtail (Kuhlia spp.) and Rabbitfish (Siganids). Seaweed (limu in Hawaiian) occupies a special place with a long history of Hawaiians and immigrant populations using dozens of species for subsistence and medicinal purposes. A review of successful efforts will be presented and the challenges preventing further progress described. The USAPI represents a valuable test bed for aquaculture development; lessons learned can be transfered to other locations, if regulatory obstacles can be lessened.
While the advisability of using native species is widely acknowledged, the species tested so far are in different stages on the development spectrum. There is a general need to further refine production methods to optimize efficiency, and assess the environmental value for each species. Aquaculture in Hawaiʻi is still primarily limited to land-based systems or the loko iʻa because of severe regulatory inhibitions making the use of open water extremely difficult, which in turn limits research and development of locally appropriate systems and practices. While the role of the loko iʻa in supporting fisheries and providing habitat is increasingly recognized, little economic value accrues to the organizations which manage the fishponds. Carbon or “green” credits may offer a partial solution.
The foundation for restorative aquaculture in the Pacific Islands region is actively being laid; however, further progress relies on the ability to more efficiently produce more native species, obtaining data to assess their functionality for environmental purposes, elimination of irrational policy and regulatory barriers, establishment of financial incentives and more consideration of the business proposition for the private sector to participate in this field.