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

     College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources
     University of Hawaii at Manoa

TILAPIA/CATFISH FRY SUPPLIER'S LIST

     There have been a number of requests lately for sources of tilapia and Asian catfish fry.  These requests are normally from backyard farmers who lack the knowledge and space to do hatchery work.   The Aquaculture Development Program (ADP) is putting together a list of tilapia, catfish, and other finfish fingerling suppliers.  If you would like to be on this list, contact either Yara Lamadrid-Rose or Dean Toda at 587-0030 as soon as possible.   This could be a business opportunity from some established farms.

 
HAA MEETING ON NOVEMBER 19TH

     The Hawaii Aquaculture Association Membership Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, November 19 at the Mariculture Research and Training Center (MRTC) in Kaneohe, from 9 a.m. to noon.  Aside from meeting with fellow aquaculturists, the meeting will feature a guest speaker specializing in starting cooperatives, an open forum to discuss issues for the upcoming
legislature, a contest to select the HAA official logo, and other activities.  A complimentary aquaculture lunch will follow the meeting, along with a tour of MRTC.   Mark your calendar for this special event!

 
EXTENSION:

Rich Bailey, ADP/SeaGrant Aquaculture Extension Agent, will be working out of MRTC on Mondays and Fridays to provide better access to Windward-side farmers.  If you would like to talk to Rich at MRTC, the number is 237-8615.  Otherwise, his UH number is 956-2873.

     The Sea Grant Extension Service is currently seeking farmers to participate in intensive and extensive ornamental fish production and growout trials with several different species.  Contact Brian Cole - Windward Community College Aquaculture complex at 235-7329.

RESEARCH GRANTS AVAILABLE:  

In past years, a number of Hawaii aquaculture firms have been successful in receiving research grants through the Small
Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.  Black Pearls, Inc. is the most recent recipient of grant monies for their project, "Development of Black Pearl Farming Methods Suitable for Hawaii and Open Lagoons of the South Pacific".  Black Pearls Inc. is based at the Natural Energy Laboratory Authority at Kailua-Kona on the Big Island.  SBIR Pre-Solicitation Announcements are published quarterly on the 20th of December, March, June and September.  The closing date for receiving
proposals for the first phase is January 11, 1995.  For additional information, call 1-800-8-ASK-SBA.

PUBLICATIONS:  

Project reports from ADP funded research and extension projects are available for your use and benefit.  If you are interested in any of the recent research activities funded by ADP -- including ornamental fish, seaweed culture in fishponds, snakehead culture, nori culture, fishpond restoration, and extension services, please call Yara at 587-0030.

WORKSHOPS/LECTURES:  

Non-Residential, On-site Composting Workshops will be conducted to help small farmers interested in learning composting to
reduce and recycle organics as a waste management option and to produce compost fertilizer.  The workshops will be held on all islands.  Oahu is scheduled for November 4-5, with neighbor island dates to be scheduled in spring 1995.  Call the Landscape Industry Council at 545-1533 if you are interested.

     The 4th Annual Hawaii Conference of the World Sustainable Agriculture Association will focus on transition to sustainable lifestyles, during November 11-12, Hilo High School Auditorium.  For more information, contact Ivan Kawamoto at 595-6344.

     "The Road Ahead in Community Reinvestment" is the theme of a community-based economic development workshop sponsored by OHA and DBEDT.  November 17-18, Hyatt Regency Waikiki.   The conference is designed to provide up-to-date information on issues facing financial institutions, community development lenders, community-based non-profits, and government officials.  For more information, call Bob Agres (DBEDT) at 586-2583 or Christine van Bergeijk (OHA) at 594-1927.

MARKETING NEWS/UPCOMING EVENTS: 

Hawaii Foodservice Industry Show, sponsored by the Hawaii Restaurant Association.  November 8 & 9, Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.   ADP will pay for a booth space only if there is farmer interest.  They expect around 1000 chefs and food purchasers -- good exposure for farms seeking new restaurant accounts.  Call Dean by Oct. 18 if you want to participate.

     Aquaculture '95 Conference & Exposition sponsored by the World Aquaculture Society, National Shellfisheries Association, and the American Fisheries Society.  February 1-4, 1995, San Diego, California.  ADP and NELHA are sharing a booth space.  If you would like your company's material at the booth, or if you plan to attend and would like to use the
booth as your "home base", call Dean at ADP or Jan War at NELHA (329-7341).

     Current wholesale prices to Hawaii farmers:  Chinese catfish $5.00 to $6.25/lb; prawns $8.50 to $11.00/lb; tilapia $3.00 to $5.00/lb; ogo $1.75 to $3.00/lb; shrimp $4.00 to $6.50.  Prices vary based on size, live vs. fresh, color and the island sold.

MISC. NEWS:  

U.S. aquaculture farmers produced 691 million pounds of product in 1992, an increase of 14.4%.  Total value hit $724 million.
Catfish production grew to 457 million pounds, up 17%.  Salmon production grew 41% to 24 million pounds.  Trout production fell to 56 million pounds from 59 million pounds.  Crawfish production topped 63 million pounds and oysters hit 24 million.

     The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently issued a final ruling exempting live farm-raised fish and farm-raised eggs from USFWS export requirements except for marking requirements.  This action exempts exporters of live farm-raised fish (e.g. tropical fish) and farm-raised fish eggs from import/export requirements, designated port requirements and payment of user fees. Source: Federal Register, Vol. 59, No. 156.   ADP has a copy if you want more information on this action.

NOTICE OF CLARIFICATION:

The Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture, requested that we clarify some information which originally appeared in a previous Pond to Plate electronic newsletter.  The response to HAMES (the Hawaii Aquaculture Multiple Expert System) for tilapia diseases has been overwhelming.   Non-residents from out of State (Hawaii) should remit to CTSA a $10 postage and handling fee and specify the diskette size of their bootup floppy disk (A:) drive when requesting a copy of HAMES.  We apologize for the misunderstandings and delays.

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.