| BIAC operates a 10-acre aquafarm
to serve the world market for premium, live abalone. The facility is located on
Hawaii's Big Island on the Kona Coast, near the Kailua-Kona International
Airport. The abalone aquafarm is one of the largest in the world.
  
The Kona Coast of Hawaii was chosen as the ideal
location to produce abalone for several reasons. First, the Kona Coast receives
more sunlight per year than any other coastal location in the USA. Such
sunlight is critical for growing large volumes of abalone food: algae.
Secondly, BIAC's aquafarm has access to a constant supply of pure, cold,
nutrient-rich seawater, pumped from a depth of 3,000 feet in the Pacific Ocean
near the Kona Coast. This seawater is also essential for growing both Kona Coast
Abalone™ and
our PolyGrow system algae. Lastly, Hawaii's location midway
between Asia and North America allows us to ship fresh, live abalone to markets
on both continents.
Phase I of the aquafarm encompasses 10 acres of
land near the Kailua-Kona International Airport.
The aquafarm currently produces 70 tons of live abalone per year.
For Phase II, the facility will expand on the 10 acre site to increase
live abalone production to 150 tons per year.
Abalone and algae tanks:
 
Sorting and boxing live
abalone for export:
 
 
NELHA's deepwater pipe is critical to BIAC's
aquafarm. NELHA has operated a 30-inch deepwater pipe since 1974.
In 2002, NELHA deployed a new 55-inch pipe that stretches to a depth of
3,000 feet, and can deliver 27,000 gallons per minute. This new pipe
will ensure adequate capacity for NELHA tenants such as BIAC.
(Left) The new deepwater pipe measures 55 inches in diameter.
(Right) Divers stand on the end of the 9,000-foot pipe
floating in the waters off of Keahole
Point prior to sinking it for deployment:
MICHAEL DARDEN / WEST HAWAII TODAY VIA ASSOCIATED
PRESS
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