HAWAI'I SEA GRANT AQUACULTURE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM STRENGTHENS WORKFORCE IN THE PACIFIC

Aquaculture industry leaders in Hawaiʻi identify workforce development as a top priority. Consistently, workforce shortages have been reported as evidenced by many positions remaining vacant for extended periods of time. Sea Grant partners in American Samoa and Guam report similar shortages and a need for workforce development. Thus, building a local talent pipeline has been identified as an urgent need to support the growth of the aquaculture industry in the Pacific region.

In 2023, NOAA Sea Grant funded a Hawai‘i Sea Grant aquaculture workforce development project with goals of:

1. Developing and expanding aquaculture training programs focused on early career needs of the next generation of aquaculturists in Hawaiʻi and U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI).
2. Establishing and expanding internship and work training opportunities within the regional aquaculture industries in Hawaiʻi and USAPI.

Thirty-four (34) paid internships were established to date with thirteen (13) host organizations in the Pacific region, which allowed interns to earn while they learn. Host organizations included industry (Blue Ocean Mariculture, Symbrosia, Kualoa Ranch, and Kaua‘i Sea Farm, Na Maka Algae, and Kupu Place Aquaponics), nonprofit organizations (Malama Loko Ea Foundation, Pacific American Foundation, Paepae O Heʻeia), and academia (University of Guam Sea Grant, American Samoa Community College, University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, and Hawaiʻi Pacific University – Oceanic Institute). Partners who worked with Hawaiʻi Sea Grant in conducting internship recruiting and facilitation activities included: the Hawaiʻi Department of Education, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, Hawaiʻi Workforce Pipeline Inc., Ewalu Industries, Kupu, and Banquet Solutions Hawaiʻi Inc. The types of internships offered included those for high school students in career education programs, high school graduates, undergraduates, as well as early career adults. Internship duration ranged from summer-long to semester-long to and one-year long. A survey to solicit feedback on the effectiveness of the internship program was shared with partners to inform future aquaculture workforce development initiatives. Survey results indicated: 1) A strong interest and commitment to continue collaborating with Hawaiʻi Sea Grant on aquaculture internships, and 2) Paid internships were especially important for participants, which allowed them to gain hands-on work experience and skills in pursuit of furthering their careers in aquaculture.