1984

Commercialization Begins: From Research to Revenue

View The 1984 Annual Report >>

NELH entered a period of commercialization and growth. Hawaiian Abalone Farms broke ground on a 21-acre facility, while Cyanotech negotiated for a four-acre spirulina farm. Research expanded to include oysters, shrimp, marine algae, and strawberries grown using cold-water condensate. State law was amended to explicitly include commercialization in NELH’s mission. New facilities supported biofouling studies, while HIMB scientists advanced trout aquaculture. A PR officer was hired, an information kiosk was planned, and staff reached 9.5 positions. Jack P. Huizingh was appointed NELH’s first permanent executive director in October.

Highlights:

  • 21.3-acre abalone farm groundbreaking (Hawaiian Abalone Farms). Hawaii governor and Hawaii County Mayor attend
  • Proposed projects include strawberry growing using cold condensate on the seawater pipes, as well as aquaculture production of oysters, clams, marine shrimp, spirulina, and other marine algae
  • Plans formulated for installation of a 30-inch coldwater pipe to supplement the 12-inch system
  • Act No. 59 amends the NELH enabling legislation to include “commercialization” as a stated goal
  • Formal ground lease for NELH is approved by BLNR
  • User fees from aquaculture budgets begin to contribute to the operation budget
  • A PR Officer is hired part-time to support tours, lectures, and brochures/information packets, bringing staff up to 9.5 positions
  • Cold water experiments have run for 732 days
  • An information kiosk to be built at the highway entrance to NELH is planned and funded
  • Dr. Ralph Berger produces spectacular electron micrographs of biofouling organisms
  • New facility for the study of corrosion and macrofouling under slow-flow conditions is constructed
  • Phase III of the One-third Scale Coldwater Pipe at Sea Test Program is conducted
  • UC Berkeley Marine Sciences Group is funded to study environmental impacts of the installation and use of proposed facilities
  • HIMB scientists continue research on the growth of salmon and rainbow trout in deep coldwater. Manipulation of temperature and photoperiod induce steelhead trout to spawn in seawater
  • NELH contracts with Analytical Services of UHM to produce computerized database and summary reports of three-year data set of water quality parameters
  • Cyanotech negotiates for a 4-acre parcel to grow spirulina in pure saltwater
  • Instrumentation studies conducted off NELH aid in the design of the Deep Underwater Muon and Neutrino Detection Project
  • Jack P. Huizingh becomes first permanent executive director of NELH in October
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