November 15, 2004

Hawaii Aquaculture Sales Up 10%

The value of Hawaii grown aquaculture totaled $27.7 million in 2003, up 10 percent from 2002, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Wednesday.

Shellfish, algae and other aquaculture experienced an increase in value from the previous year. The breakdown:

• Algae sales amounted to nearly $11.9 million, 43 percent of the value.
   
• Shellfish sales totaled $9.7 million, 35 percent of the total.
   
• The 'other' category, which includes ornamentals, seed stock, brood stock and others, was almost $4.4 million, 15 percent above the 2002 total. Finfish fell 35 percent to $1.7 million and comprised the remaining 6 percent.

Hawaii County continued to lead the state in aquaculture sales with $19.6 million, 71 percent of the total value. Honolulu County contributed $4.7 million or 17 percent of the total. Sales from Kauai and Maui County accounted for the remaining 12 percent, the Hawaii Agricultural Statistics Service said.