POND TO PLATE
== Aquaculture News You Can Use ==

                                 
                              
Bulletin of the Hawaii Aquaculture Extension & Advisory Network:

     Sea Grant Extension Services
     School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology
     University of Hawaii at Manoa

     Aquaculture Development Program
     Department of Land and Natural Resources
     State of Hawaii

     Biosystems Engineering Department
     College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources
     University of Hawaii at Manoa

 
1995 STATE LEGISLATURE NOW IN SESSION

     Bills of interest to aquaculturists include: HB2008 (SB1641) Relating to Aquatic Life, which would establish a license for farms to grow and sell aquacultured species such as moi, awa, aholehole and others; HB1882 (SB1741) Relating to Economic Development, which would transfer NELHA to be administratively under DBEDT's High Tech Development Corp.; HB2102 (SB1841 and 1881) Relating to Ornamental Fish, which would provide funds to DLNR to assist the ornamental fish industry.  ADP is also tracking bills addressing Hawaiian fishpond restoration initiatives, aquaculture loan program clarification, and various other business assistance bills.

 
GROWOUT FARMS NEEDED FOR TROPICAL FISH PROJECT

     The USDA/CTSA-funded tropical fish culture project is seeking commercial aquaculture farms interested in participating in the final phase of the project.  Farms would need to commit pond space and labor.  Help with setup, training, and marketing would be provided.  If you have fresh water ponds with pondside electricity, and are interested in giving tropical fish a serious try, call Brian Cole (SGES) at 808 235-7329 or Chris Brown (UH/HIMB) at 808 236-7445.

 
PRODUCTION EXTENSION:

     MRTC can now access the PRAISE system, the remote data base located at Hamilton library (UH Manoa).  The PRAISE system can be used to perform aquaculture literature searches from published research reports worldwide.   To give the system a spin, call Rich Bailey, Clyde Tamaru, Karen Hunt or Bo Alexander at MRTC (808 237-8615).

ENGINEERING EXTENSION:

     The Aquaculture Engineering Extension Project (AEEP) is assembling an equipment data base from hundreds of manufacturer catalogs.  AEEP's data base will be able to provide you with a complete listing of equipment manufacturers and suppliers of netting, pipes, liners, pumps, post-harvest equipment, etc.  If you are in need of a particular piece of equipment, call Tim Hering (808 956-8877) or Jenifer Mathieu (808 956-8819) for assistance.

RESEARCH PROJECT UPDATE:

     ADP funded projects currently underway include:   Production extension services (UH/SGES/C. Tamaru and R. Bailey);  Engineering extension services (UH/J-K. Wang, T. Hering and J. Mathieu);  Intensive snakehead (pongee) culture (UH/A. Fast);  Growth promoters in ornamental fish and fish feeds technology research (UH/G. Grau); Blue-green algae for pharmaceuticals (UH/G. Patterson); Detection of shrimp viral infection (UH/P. Loh); Using hormones for enhanced larval production (UH/C. Brown); and Developing technology for turtle culture (UH/T. Clarke).   If you would like information on any of these projects, including project reports, call Yara Lamadrid-Rose at 808 587-0030.

NCRI GRANT PROPOSALS DUE SOON:

     The National Coastal Resources Research and Development Institute (NCRI) is now accepting preliminary proposals for new projects for FY 1996 funding.  Projects must promote environmentally and socially compatible economic growth and prosperity in the coastal U.S. and include aquaculture.  NCRI provides a bridge between applied research and private sector or community application of innovative ideas.  To receive more information of NCRI funding opportunities, contact Katherine Richardson at (503)725-5725, fax: (503)725-5732.  Deadline for pre-proposals is March 1.

NEW PUBLICATIONS:

     Guide to Drug, Vaccine, and Pesticide Use in Aquaculture, Federal Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture, Texas Agricultural Extension Service.  ADP has a copy if you want to view it.....  Abalone Culture in Hawaii:   Haliotis fulgens and Haliotis diversicolor supertexta, P. Olin, UH Sea Grant, Center for Tropical & Subtropical Aquaculture. Call CTSA at 808 259-7951 for a copy of the fact sheet.

ORGANIC CERTIFICATION AVAILABLE:

     The Hawaii Organic Farmers Association (HOFA) is now able to certify aquaculture farms as organic.  Formed in 1993 with members on all islands, the HOFA's primary goals are to promote organic agriculture and to provide low cost certification of organically grown products. HOFA administers and implements the Organic Certification program for the State of Hawaii and is currently training certifying agents on aquaculture operations.  Having the "HOFA Certified Organic" seal on product packaging could be a marketing plus, as consumers are associating organic products with quality and safety.  For more information on the HOFA and the certification process, contact Diana Dahl at 808 573-0995.

MARKETING NEWS:

     Marketing live fish for ethnic markets has turned into the most important segment for domestic tilapia production (about 85%). Prices for live whole fish averaged $1.65/lb.  Total U.S. production in 1994 is estimated at 16.5 million pounds.  1995 production is expected to increase to 23 million pounds.   As Asian communities continue to expand in the United States and Canada, demand will increase. Source: Seafood Business (Jan/Feb '95) ..... Per capita consumption of seafood in the U.S. rose to 15.0 pounds in 1993, up from 14.8 pounds in 1992.  The total amount of seafood consumed in the U.S. rose to 3.86 billion pounds, an increase of 150 million pounds from 1992.  Source:  National Fisheries Institute.

MISC. NEWS:

     The artemia industry in Utah has been struck with a poor harvest seasons.  Consequently, there is a global deficit of brine shrimp eggs for the aquaculture industry.  Look for prices to go up in 1995.

POND TO PLATE is a bimonthly news-bulletin targeting Hawaii's aquaculture community.  If you would like to contribute news to a Pond to Plate issue, the deadline is the last Friday of each odd-numbered month.   Send your information contributions to Dean Toda, Pond to Plate, via phone (808) 587-0030; via fax (808) 587-0033; conventional mail: Aquaculture Development Program, 335 Merchant Street - Room 348, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813; or, e-mail Leonard Young: lyoung@uhunix.uhcc.hawaii.edu.

  Leonard Young:  Aquaculture Development Program, 335 Merchant St. #348,
                 Honolulu, HI  96813                 Phone: (808) 587-0030
                 E-mail: lyoung@uhunix.uhcc.hawaii.edu