Exposing Hawaii's Aquaculture Resources for Restorative Purposes

A report which raises awareness of the environmental and socio-economic benefits of sustainable blue food production in Hawaii has just been launched by Hatch Innovation Services.

FREMONT, CA: Hawaii has opted to undertake a determined and coordinated effort to increase its awareness of marine aquaculture to capitalize on commercial opportunities and be at the forefront of innovation in the rapidly developing industry. Shellfish and seaweed aquaculture is seen as having exceptionally high potential, according to the report. These methods of food and biomass production, as forms of restorative aquaculture, require very little feed, freshwater, or land. Furthermore, restorative aquaculture projects have the potential to go beyond impact reduction by improving water quality, removing excess nutrients from their immediate environments, mitigating climate change, and creating new habitats – all of which contribute to healthier marine ecosystems while also creating new economic opportunities.

The following reasons make Hawaii well positioned and suited for restorative aquaculture activities - the indigenous roots of the aquaculture through fishpond techniques and the islanders consume a lot of seafood, giving it a strong cultural foundation. Due to the archipelago's remote location, it benefits from unique geographical advantages and a favorable climate, as well as high levels of productivity and biosecurity. A skilled research community and an existing R&D infrastructure also add to these activities. The report shows how Hawaii can lead climate change mitigation by using restorative aquaculture as a nature-based solution to rejuvenate coastal habitats and indigenous culture and improve food security, all while creating more jobs in a sustainable ocean economy, starting in 2022. Regulatory and water space constraints, as well as knowledge gaps in native species, production procedures, and commercial potential, as well as a lack of risk capital, are now impeding the growth of this emerging blue economy sector.

The report concludes with a list of specific action items to help this emerging industry get back on track. Reduce regulatory barriers by optimizing the governance system. To close knowledge gaps, coordinate and support early-stage research. To stimulate innovation, support existing, emerging, and aspiring farmers, practitioners, and entrepreneurs, as well as cross-sector collaboration. Develop value chains and high-value markets using R&D knowledge. Develop a workforce and capacity-building strategy that takes diversity, equity, and inclusion into account and raises awareness of the benefits and possibilities of aquaculture outside of the aquaculture industry. In the following step, a task group comprised of at least one person from the private, public, risk capital, academia, and non-profit sectors should be formed to address a number of the report's initial action areas.