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Ahi aquaculture proposal

May 27, 2009

Kohala Coast, Hawaii–Plans have surfaced for a new aquaculture facility to raise yellow fin and big eye tuna off the coast of the island of Hawaii. Big eye is the second most popular tuna for sashimi, following the popular but extremely scarce bluefin tuna.

A Hawaii Oceanic Technology proposal involves a dozen pens for raising tuna roughly three miles off the Kona coast in the next two years. A few tuna (mostly bluefin) aquaculture operations have been tried in Japan and Australia, but most take adult tuna and simply fatten them up for market.

Oceanic will need to develop new techniques and procedures to be successful, Bill Spencer, CEO of the firm, is seeking to make his venture more environmentally sensitive than the standard fish farm. Because the large pens will be placed in deep ocean waters with plenty of room between them, Spencer thinks that pollution can be minimized. The problem of what to feed farmed fish remains a tough one, however. Feeding fish meal to penned tuna will increase pressure on other fish stocks. Spencer hopes to overcome this problem by developing a high protein fish food from soy and algae, but will initially follow the lead of other fish farmers and use fish meal.

Both state and federal permits are necessary, and for them, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement was submitted (to read the document, on the internet, search: Hawaii Oceanic Technologies/EIS). The deadline for public input has passed, but the EIS should respond to questions raised.

Because this is a food news tidbit, we cannot begin to present the discussion and controversy that surround the aquaculture industry. Voices in the scientific community reflect many perspectives, from conservation to development. And there are other perspectives to consider, such as international management and cultural issues. This discussion must be guided by respectful mediation and based on responsible science.

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