The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) businesses have reported a surge in product sales, which is a major factor in Hawaii’s aquaculture record high sales in 2014.
Products produced at NELHA now rank first and second in the state, and a review of export data indicates a majority of the increase in production is also being exported outside the US.
Recent figures show that Hawaii’s aquaculture sales reached $78.2 million in 2014, a 40.4% increase over 2012 sales. This increase in aquaculture products sales, which include shellfish, finfish and algae of which a majority is produced at NELHA, is the third major product and the largest increase since 2010. Algae alone is responsible for almost 50% at $33.1 million in 2014.
A large part of the increase in the aquaculture production and export is also related to the growth in shrimp broodstock companies at NELHA. An example of this increase can be attributed to Shrimp Improvement Systems, which moved its worldwide headquarters from Key West in Florida to NELHA several years ago. Some experts say Hawaii has now become the ‘shrimp broodstock capital of the world’ and may account for up to 60% of total worldwide production. Much of this production is exported to Asia for grow out.
Export data (excluding re-exports) from the U.S. Federal government show that the Fish, Crustaceans and Aquatic Invertebrates export category (generally aquaculture) has increased from the third highest export in 2012 to second in 2013 and the highest export product at $32.5 million in 2014. The exports for this category increased by 77% over this time period.
“We are thrilled by the growth in aquaculture sales and increased exports and the very significant contributions from NELHA firms that are leading this surge,” says NELHA’s executive director, Gregory Barbour. “We look forward to seeing this favourable trend continue as more projects in this Blue Tech category come online in the park.”
