August 15, 2023

Philippines and Hawaii state, US eyes aquaculture partnership

Hawaii state Senator Glenn Wakai has pointed to the potential for collaboration between the Philippines and Hawaii state, US, in fisheries, particularly in the aquaculture sector, The Philippine Star reported.

Referring to the significant contribution of Hawaii, the Philippines, and Thailand to global shrimp exports, Wakai underscored the possibility of forging an aquaculture alliance for mutual benefit.

While Hawaii holds a notable position in shrimp exports, Senator Wakai revealed that the state is, in fact, a net importer of fish, bringing in about 70% of its consumed seafood.

Explaining the context of Hawaii's dependency, Wakai said that the island's geographical constraints spur the need for innovative solutions like aquaculture to bolster local fish production.

Data sourced from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) emphasised the significance of aquaculture in the Philippines. Aquaculture stands as the dominant contributor to the country's fisheries production, accounting for 55.1% of the total share during the first quarter.

The initial quarter of 2023 marked a growth of 1.7% in aquaculture production in the Philippines, reaching 545,636 metric tonnes (MT) compared to the 536,605 MT recorded during the corresponding period in the preceding year.

-      The Philippine Star