The commercial aquafarms on the Big
Island have increased in number and acreage. There are presently 40 farms utilizing
coastal springs and stream water to grow Chinese catfish, channel catfish, tilapia, grass
carp, common carp, rainbow trout, Malaysian prawns, mullet, moi, milkfish, crayfish, and
ornamental fish. Five commercial farms utilize surface and deep ocean water to grow
microalgae, American lobster, Japanese flounder, shrimp and ogo. Freshwater finfish
species and marine shrimp are marketed within the state. There are over 170 acres of
aquafarms on the Big Island producing over 1 million pounds of aquaculture products valued
at over $11 million per year. Prospective entrepreneurs from the mainland U.S., Japan,
Taiwan and Russia are investigating the feasibility of aquaculture farms for marine
shrimp, oyster, opihi, sea cucumber, manila and giant clams, black pearl, disease-free
shrimp and sturgeon.
The commercial aquafarms on the Big
Island have increased in number and acreage. There are presently 40 farms utilizing
coastal springs and stream water to grow Chinese catfish, channel catfish, tilapia, grass
carp, common carp, rainbow trout, Malaysian prawns, mullet, moi, milkfish, crayfish, and
ornamental fish. Five commercial farms utilize surface and deep ocean water to grow
microalgae, American lobster, Japanese flounder, shrimp and ogo. Freshwater finfish
species and marine shrimp are marketed within the state. There are over 170 acres of
aquafarms on the Big Island producing over 1 million pounds of aquaculture products valued
at over $11 million per year. Prospective entrepreneurs from the mainland U.S., Japan,
Taiwan and Russia are investigating the feasibility of aquaculture farms for marine
shrimp, oyster, opihi, sea cucumber, manila and giant clams, black pearl, disease-free
shrimp and sturgeon.