All Discussions Tagged 'Hawaii' - AquacultureHub2024-03-28T17:56:51Zhttp://www.aquaculturehub.org/forum/topic/listForTag?tag=Hawaii&feed=yes&xn_auth=noSome really good speakers....tag:www.aquaculturehub.org,2017-10-20:4021269:Topic:2029382017-10-20T01:29:53.986ZChief Zonerhttp://www.aquaculturehub.org/profile/ChiefZoner
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2061694168?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2061694168?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2061694168?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2061694168?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-full"/></a></p> Hawaii’s largest aquaponics farm looking to grow medical marijuanatag:www.aquaculturehub.org,2016-08-19:4021269:Topic:1900252016-08-19T03:11:08.173ZAquacultureHub Teamhttp://www.aquaculturehub.org/profile/Aquaculture
<p>Mari’s Garden in Central Oahu, which is one of the largest aquaponics farms in the United States, could be adding a medical marijuana growing operation to its mix, according to public documents.</p>
<p>ERBA Wellness, headed by an owner of Mari’s Garden and its consultant, who have applied with the state Department of Health to become one of three medical marijuana dispensaries on Oahu, plan to grow their products at the Mililani farm, according to a recent presentation by the group at the…</p>
<p>Mari’s Garden in Central Oahu, which is one of the largest aquaponics farms in the United States, could be adding a medical marijuana growing operation to its mix, according to public documents.</p>
<p>ERBA Wellness, headed by an owner of Mari’s Garden and its consultant, who have applied with the state Department of Health to become one of three medical marijuana dispensaries on Oahu, plan to grow their products at the Mililani farm, according to a recent presentation by the group at the Mililani/Waipio/Melemanu Neighborhood Board.</p>
<p>To read more click <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2016/03/21/hawaii-s-largest-aquaponics-farm-looking-to-grow.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></p> HAWAII’S ORGANIC PRODUCTION VALUE INCREASEStag:www.aquaculturehub.org,2015-10-29:4021269:Topic:1783172015-10-29T06:20:09.038ZDr. Tetsuzan Benny Ronhttp://www.aquaculturehub.org/profile/tetsuzanRon
<p>The 2014 Organic Production Survey conducted in Hawaii found 166 farms with 3,505 acres in organic production, according to Kathy King, Hawaii State Statistician, USDA, NASS. Of those farms, 61 are producing vegetables with a value of over $8.7 million, and 126 farms are producing organic fruit with a value of over $3.4 million. Organic vegetable value in 2008 was $4.3 million, while fruit value in 2008 was $3.3 million.</p>
<p>Value-added organic products were produced and sold on 44…</p>
<p>The 2014 Organic Production Survey conducted in Hawaii found 166 farms with 3,505 acres in organic production, according to Kathy King, Hawaii State Statistician, USDA, NASS. Of those farms, 61 are producing vegetables with a value of over $8.7 million, and 126 farms are producing organic fruit with a value of over $3.4 million. Organic vegetable value in 2008 was $4.3 million, while fruit value in 2008 was $3.3 million.</p>
<p>Value-added organic products were produced and sold on 44 farms with a value of over $1.8 million, an average of $41,737 per farm. </p>
<p>The first point of sales was within 100 miles for 49% of Hawaiian organic farmers, with 16% occurring from 101 to 499 miles, and 30% occurring nationally. Five percent of organic sales were to international markets. Twenty-eight percent of organic farmers sell direct to consumers, while 37% sell direct to retail, and 35% sell at wholesale markets.</p>
<p>The majority of organic farmers in Hawaii used the following production practices: organic mulch/compost, green or animal manures, no-till or minimum till, maintained buffer strips, and water management practices. Other production practices utilized were biological pest management, maintaining beneficial insect or vertebrate habitat, selecting planting locations to avoid pests, releasing beneficial organisms, choosing pest resistant varieties, and planning plantings to avoid cross-contamination.</p>
<p>Thirty percent of organic farmers say the biggest production challenge is regulatory, while 25% say the biggest challenge is production problems.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>For more information, please see the complete report at <a href="http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Online_Resources/Organics/" target="_blank">http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Online_Resources/Organics/</a> or contact: Kathy King at <a target="_blank">(808) 522-8080</a> or<a href="mailto:Kathy.king@nass.usda.gov" target="_blank">Kathy.king@nass.usda.gov</a></p> Lawmakers Suggest to Swap UH Hilo Pharmacy School for UH Manoa CTAHRtag:www.aquaculturehub.org,2015-03-19:4021269:Topic:1707432015-03-19T02:29:51.966ZDr. Tetsuzan Benny Ronhttp://www.aquaculturehub.org/profile/tetsuzanRon
<p>Big Island of Hawaii politicians have been trying to move the University of Hawaii Manoa (UHM) College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) from Oahu to UH Hilo for years.</p>
<p>State Rep. Richard Creagan said that "...moving CTAHR to Hilo is a subject that has long been discussed, and is something that seems a natural move, considering the Big Island’s ongoing transition from an economy centered around the sugar industry."</p>
<p>Last Friday State Rep. Richard Creagan,…</p>
<p>Big Island of Hawaii politicians have been trying to move the University of Hawaii Manoa (UHM) College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) from Oahu to UH Hilo for years.</p>
<p>State Rep. Richard Creagan said that "...moving CTAHR to Hilo is a subject that has long been discussed, and is something that seems a natural move, considering the Big Island’s ongoing transition from an economy centered around the sugar industry."</p>
<p>Last Friday State Rep. Richard Creagan, D-Naalehu, introduced the House Resolution 100, requesting that the University of Hawaii study the feasibility of uprooting the nascent pharmacy program and moving it to Kakaako in Honolulu.</p>
<p>Colin Steward reported that a call to Maria Gallo, dean of CTHAR, was not returned as of press time Tuesday. </p>
<p>- See more at: <a href="http://m.hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/local-news/lawmaker-move-pharmacy-school-oahu#sthash.UlOn8FUw.dpuf" target="_blank">http://m.hawaiitribune-herald.com/news/local-news/lawmaker-move-pharmacy-school-oahu#sthash.UlOn8FUw.dpuf</a></p>
<p><span>Email Colin M. Stewart at cstewart@hawaiitribune-herald.com.</span></p> Federal funds available for agricultural conservation projectstag:www.aquaculturehub.org,2015-03-14:4021269:Topic:1704402015-03-14T22:05:03.201ZAquacultureHub Teamhttp://www.aquaculturehub.org/profile/Aquaculture
<p><span>HONOLULU, March 5, 2015 – Are you a farmer or rancher that wants to address water management and erosion control on your farming operation? Federal funds are available to assist you!</span><br></br><br></br><span>The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) reminds potential applicants to contact their local NRCS office to find out if they are eligible for one of the agency’s Farm Bill programs, Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA). Applications for this ranking period are due at NRCS…</span></p>
<p><span>HONOLULU, March 5, 2015 – Are you a farmer or rancher that wants to address water management and erosion control on your farming operation? Federal funds are available to assist you!</span><br/><br/><span>The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) reminds potential applicants to contact their local NRCS office to find out if they are eligible for one of the agency’s Farm Bill programs, Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA). Applications for this ranking period are due at NRCS offices by close of business on April 17, 2015.</span><br/><br/><span>“This federal money is only available to farmers and ranchers here in the islands and a few other states," said Craig Derickson, NRCS Acting Director for the Pacific Islands Area. “Don’t pass up on this limited opportunity.”</span><br/><br/><span>The Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) program provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to voluntarily address issues such as water management, water quality, and erosion control by incorporating conservation into their farming operations. At this time, AMA is only available in Hawaii and 15 other states in the continental U.S. The NRCS Office Locator is available at </span><a href="http://www.pia.nrcs.usda.gov/" target="_blank">www.pia.nrcs.usda.gov</a><span>. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.</span><br/><br/><span>###</span><br/><br/><span>Jolene Lau</span><br/><span>Public Affairs Specialist</span><br/><span>Natural Resources Conservation Service</span><br/><span>United States Department of Agriculture</span><br/><span>300 Ala Moana Blvd., #4-118</span><br/><span>Honolulu, HI 96850</span><br/><span>(808) 541-2600 ext. 135</span><br/><a href="http://www.pia.nrcs.usda.gov/" target="_blank">www.pia.nrcs.usda.gov</a></p> Hawaii Island Ocean Awareness Trainingtag:www.aquaculturehub.org,2014-11-18:4021269:Topic:1645972014-11-18T01:32:55.588ZAquacultureHub Teamhttp://www.aquaculturehub.org/profile/Aquaculture
<div><span>OCEAN AWARENESS TRAINING COMES TO HAWAI‘I ISLAND! Marine conservation organizations have joined together to offer the inaugural Ocean Awareness Training on Hawai‘i. Don’t miss your chance to take part in this course, which will provide multi-disciplinary knowledge of Hawai‘i’s unique marine environment.</span></div>
<div><p><span><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Participants will learn about current ocean conservation efforts and opportunities to get involved. The program is…</font></span></p>
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<div><span>OCEAN AWARENESS TRAINING COMES TO HAWAI‘I ISLAND! Marine conservation organizations have joined together to offer the inaugural Ocean Awareness Training on Hawai‘i. Don’t miss your chance to take part in this course, which will provide multi-disciplinary knowledge of Hawai‘i’s unique marine environment.</span></div>
<div><p><span><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Participants will learn about current ocean conservation efforts and opportunities to get involved. The program is open to the public - no prior experience is required. Instructors include university scientists, government agency staff, environmental educators, and conservation practitioners.</font></span></p>
<p><b><span>Classes will be held at West Hawai'i Civic Center in Kailua Kona on </span><span><span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">Friday, December 5</span></span>, <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">Thursday, December 11 and Monday, December 15</span></span>, <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">9 am – 2 pm</span></span>. </span></b></p>
<p><span><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Participants are required to take part in all three sessions, and a three-hour field project in order to receive C.O.R.A.L. certification (Care of our Culture, Oceans, Reefs and Animal Life). </font></span></p>
<p>Training Topics:</p>
<p>Hawai‘i’s Marine Environment</p>
<p>Hawaiian Culture</p>
<p>Marine Mammals & Sea Turtles</p>
<p>Reef Ecology</p>
<p>Marine Debris</p>
<p>Threats to Marine Ecosystems</p>
<p>Field Projects:</p>
<p>Field projects will be offered in</p>
<p>December and January</p>
<p>Schedule:</p>
<p>Friday, December 5 &</p>
<p>Thursday, December 11 &</p>
<p>Monday, December 15</p>
<p>9 am – 2 pm.</p>
<p>Location:</p>
<p>Classes will be held at the</p>
<p>West Hawai‘i Civic Center</p>
<p>74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.,</p>
<p>Building C, 2nd Floor</p>
<p>Kailua-Kona HI 96740</p>
<p></p>
<p>This is the first time this popular program will be held on Hawai‘i and is</p>
<p>expected to fill quickly. Registration is accepted on a first-come, first-served</p>
<p>basis and will close by December 1, 2014. Sign up now to learn more about</p>
<p>the marine species that call Hawai‘i home and find out how you can become</p>
<p>more involved in supporting local marine conservation and stewardship</p>
<p>efforts.</p>
<p><span>Register today by visiting us online at </span><a href="http://oceanawarehawaii.org/" target="_blank">http://oceanawarehawaii.org</a><span>.</span><font color="#888888"><br/></font></p>
<p>Thank you,<br/>Shannon Lyday</p>
<p></p>
</div> Energy Workshop To Be Held For Rural Small Businesses, Ag Producerstag:www.aquaculturehub.org,2014-11-17:4021269:Topic:1645902014-11-17T21:28:06.097ZAquacultureHub Teamhttp://www.aquaculturehub.org/profile/Aquaculture
<p>USDA Rural Development, in partnership with the State of Hawaii, Department of Hawaiian Homelands and the Waimanalo Homestead Association are hosting two energy workshops for the island of Oahu. The primary focus of these workshops are to notify rural small businesses and agricultural producers of renewable energy loan and grant opportunities. Topics to be covered include eligibility requirements, application information, and tips for submitting a better proposal. Interested businesses…</p>
<p>USDA Rural Development, in partnership with the State of Hawaii, Department of Hawaiian Homelands and the Waimanalo Homestead Association are hosting two energy workshops for the island of Oahu. The primary focus of these workshops are to notify rural small businesses and agricultural producers of renewable energy loan and grant opportunities. Topics to be covered include eligibility requirements, application information, and tips for submitting a better proposal. Interested businesses and farmers/ranchers are welcome to attend. Note this program does NOT allow residential use. The workshops will be held at:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b><u>Tuesday, December 2, 2014:</u></b></p>
<p>9:00 am to 10:00 am</p>
<p>Waimanalo Homestead Association Halau</p>
<p>41-253 Ilauhole St.</p>
<p>Waimanalo, HI 96795</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b><u>Tuesday, December 2, 2014:</u></b></p>
<p>1:00 pm to 2:00 pm</p>
<p>Department of Hawaiian Homelands</p>
<p>Hale Pono'i Conference Room</p>
<p>91-5420 Kapolei Parkway</p>
<p>Kapolei, HI 96707</p>
<p> </p>
<p>More information on the Rural Energy for America Program can be found at: <a href="http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_ReapResEei.html" target="_blank">http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_ReapResEei.html</a>. As space is limited at each of the venues, please RSVP your attendance to Shirley Heatherly at <a target="_blank">808-541-2600 ext. 139</a> or via e-mail at <a href="mailto:shirley.heatherly@hi.usda.gov" target="_blank">shirley.heatherly@hi.usda.gov</a>. Thanks,</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Tim</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Timothy W. O'Connell | Assistant to the State Director <br/>Rural Development</p>
<p>United States Department of Agriculture</p>
<p>Phone: <a target="_blank">808-933-8313</a> | Fax: <a target="_blank">808-933-8326</a> | Cell: <a target="_blank">808-443-7043</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/" target="_blank">www.rurdev.usda.gov</a> | “Committed to the future of rural communities”</p> Breaking News: Apple to be removed as chancellor of University of Hawaii's Manoa campustag:www.aquaculturehub.org,2014-07-27:4021269:Topic:1593252014-07-27T18:57:00.741ZDr. Tetsuzan Benny Ronhttp://www.aquaculturehub.org/profile/tetsuzanRon
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2061692962?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2061692962?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="650"></img></a></p>
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<p><span id="WNStoryDateline">HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -</span></p>
<p>Tom Apple will be removed as chancellor of the University of Hawaii’s flagship Manoa campus, multiple sources told Hawaii News Now on Saturday night.</p>
<p>University of Hawaii President David Lassner has notified Apple of the decision not to retain him as chancellor, and Apple’s lawyer is…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2061692962?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="650" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2061692962?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="650" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span id="WNStoryDateline">HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -</span></p>
<p>Tom Apple will be removed as chancellor of the University of Hawaii’s flagship Manoa campus, multiple sources told Hawaii News Now on Saturday night.</p>
<p>University of Hawaii President David Lassner has notified Apple of the decision not to retain him as chancellor, and Apple’s lawyer is negotiating with U.H. officials on a potential settlement for the remaining three years of his five year contract with the school, sources familiar with the situation said.</p>
<p>At the time he was hired in May of 2012, Apple’s employment agreement paid him $439,000 dollars a year through 2017.</p>
<p>Apple was traveling in California on official U.H. business on Saturday night and could not immediately be reached for comment.</p>
<p></p>
<p><em class="wnDate">Posted: Jul 26, 2014 9:46 PM HST</em><em class="wnDate">Updated: Jul 27, 2014 7:21 AM HST</em></p>
<p><a href="http://j.mp/1o4tiWp" target="_blank">http://j.mp/1o4tiWp</a></p>
<div id="WNStoryByline"><div class="byline">By Keoki Kerr - <a href="http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/16575235/keoki-" target="_blank">bio</a><span class="addthis_separator"> | </span><a href="mailto:kkerr@hawaiinewsnow.com?body=http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/26122508/breaking-tom-apple-to-be-removed-as-chancellor-of-university-of-hawaiis-manoa-campus-details-at-10-pm-on-kgmb-and-khnl" target="_blank">email</a></div>
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</div> Hatch me if you can - Fish farming could be a boon for Hawaii if a local firm can iron out its kinkstag:www.aquaculturehub.org,2014-07-20:4021269:Topic:1588692014-07-20T15:36:46.664ZWes Whttp://www.aquaculturehub.org/profile/WesW
<p><span style="font-size: 2em;">Hatch me if you can</span></p>
<p class="storyDeck article-important">Fish farming could be a boon for Hawaii if a local firm can iron out its kinks</p>
<p></p>
<div class="article-important"><a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&fs=1&tf=1&to=agomes@staradvertiser.com" target="_blank">By <span>Andrew Gomes…</span></a></div>
<p><br></br></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 2em;">Hatch me if you can</span></p>
<p class="storyDeck article-important">Fish farming could be a boon for Hawaii if a local firm can iron out its kinks</p>
<p></p>
<div class="article-important"><a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&fs=1&tf=1&to=agomes@staradvertiser.com" target="_blank">By <span>Andrew Gomes</span></a></div>
<p><br/> <a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&fs=1&tf=1&to=agomes@staradvertiser.com" target="_blank"></a></p>
<p><span class="hsa_dateStamp article-important">POSTED: <span>01:30 a.m. HST, Jul 20, 2014</span></span></p>
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<div class="tease_timestamp">SYD KRAUL / PACIFIC PLANKTONICS INC.</div>
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<div>Larval ahi 17 days after hatching from an egg (not shown actual size).</div>
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<div class="clearfix">Farmed ahi isn't quite ready to become Hawaii's newest export, though an ambitious venture to raise yellowfin tuna is getting close to launching after eight years and nearly $10 million invested in the effort.</div>
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<p class="storytext article-important">Hawaii Oceanic Technology Inc. has endured a lengthy regulatory process and still faces challenges rearing yellowfin from eggs. But company CEO Bill Spencer said last week an initial pool of young fish may finally start swimming in sea cages off Hawaii island next year.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">"No one has done this before," said Spencer, former president of the Hawaii Venture Capital Association. "Though additional work needs to be done, company officials and research partners are confident that success with egg-to-plate tuna rearing is at hand."</p>
<p class="storytext article-important"><img border="0" align="right" src="http://media.staradvertiser.com/images/20140720_BUS_MUG.jpg" alt=""/></p>
<p class="storytext article-important">Spencer established Hawaii Oceanic in 2006 and has spent the last several years obtaining permits, working on cage technology and trying to rear ahi.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">He expects construction of the first of the company's patented "oceanspheres" by the end of this year. Testing in the sea is scheduled to begin in 2015, he said.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">Oceanspheres are designed to hover anchorless about 65 feet below the surface and about 1,250 feet above the ocean floor using a combination of ballast, thruster control and surface buoys.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">Each oceansphere is 177 feet in diameter, about half the length of a football field, and provides about 3 million cubic feet of interior space. Spencer said the structures will comfortably hold 20,000 fish growing up to 100 pounds each.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">"The idea is to create an environment where the fish are happy and healthy -- not squeezed in like sardines," he said.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">The intended harvest size is about 90 pounds, which will take about 18 months to reach, Spencer projected.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">However, raising the fish beyond a larval stage has proved difficult.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">Hawaii Oceanic is working with fish-rearing firm Pacific Planktonics Inc. to grow yellowfin from eggs. To date, Pacific Planktonics has been able to get adult fish to spawn, though the offspring have survived only up to an advanced larval stage.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">Syd Kraul, owner of Pacific Planktonics, believes he's on the right track to growing larvae into fish about 3 inches long known as fingerlings. "That's really hard," he said. "That's the weakest link."</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">Kraul added that catching and keeping adult tuna alive in holding tanks is expensive and that the fish sometimes bang into walls and die.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">Spencer said if he can't get young yellowfin by the time the cages are ready for stocking next year, then he plans to instead use moi or kampachi.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">If Hawaii Oceanic is successful, Spencer said additional cages could be deployed about two years after the first one.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">At full capacity, Hawaii Oceanic anticipates being able to harvest 12 million pounds of ahi from six of 12 cages annually. The company plans to trademark its fish King Ahi and supply Hawaii, Japan and the West Coast. Spencer expects to sell the fish at a premium around $12.50 per pound, or $150 million a year.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">Spencer said the global market for farmed seafood by 2020 is expected to surpass $200 billion, of which open-ocean fish farming would represent more than $75 billion.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">"This is an incredible opportunity for the U.S., and Hawaii in particular, due to our extensive exclusive economic zone," he said.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">The company also intends to sell its oceansphere technology for which it holds patents in the United States, Australia, Canada and the Philippines. Patents are also pending in Europe and Japan.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important"> </p>
<p class="storytext article-important">Open-ocean fish farming has raised concerns that include uneaten food and fish waste degrading ocean ecology, the impact on wild populations if fish escape, and cages attracting or being a hazard to other sea creatures.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">Existing and past farm operators have said years of monitoring demonstrate no significant negative environmental impacts. And though raising fish in submerged ocean pens is still largely pioneering work with challenges, potential rewards include creating a major export for Hawaii, reducing pressure on fisheries and satisfying consumer demand in a state where about 85 percent of seafood is imported.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">"Generally we need more mariculture in Hawaii," said Maria Haws, director of the Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. "We're importing all this seafood. I think there's sort of a moral imperative to raising the fish ourselves."</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">Spencer's company is zeroing in on commercial production amid a burgeoning resurgence in Hawaii open-ocean fish farming after a couple of big failures.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">Earlier this month Mamala Bay Seafood LLC filed an environmental report seeking approval to start a moi farm in waters next to the Honolulu Airport reef runway, and Blue Ocean Mariculture LLC filed a similar report seeking to more than double the size of its existing kampachi farm off Kona International Airport.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">The Mamala Bay venture led by Randy Cates comes about two years after another Oahu moi farm started by Cates, Hukilau Foods, was shut down in bankruptcy after an investment firm took over the company and tried to execute an expansion plan.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">Blue Ocean started production two years ago after acquiring assets of a prior kampachi farm, Kona Blue Water Farms, that had quit production in 2009.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">Spencer's company completed an environmental impact statement in 2009, and a year later obtained a lease from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to deploy up to 12 cages below a 247-acre sea surface area three miles off Kawaihae north of West Hawaii resorts and a mile outside the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">Several other permits necessary to begin farming were obtained, including an Army Corps of Engineers permit that took four years to get in part because it required consultation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to address impacts on endangered species and protected habitats.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">"It was an excruciating, long process," Spencer said.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">The Army Corps permit, obtained last year, allows Hawaii Oceanic to deploy just one cage, which will be tested for six months before adding fish.</p>
<p class="storytext article-important">Read: <a href="http://www.staradvertiser.com/businesspremium/20140720_Hatch_me_if_you_can.html" target="_blank">http://www.staradvertiser.com/businesspremium/20140720_Hatch_me_if_you_can.html</a></p>
</div> Aquaculture food safety and environmental hazards still remaintag:www.aquaculturehub.org,2014-07-15:4021269:Topic:1588242014-07-15T21:16:36.095ZWes Whttp://www.aquaculturehub.org/profile/WesW
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<p><span class="font-size-5">Farm aims to double its haul</span></p>
<p>The business's plan boosts the number and size of its fish cages off Kona</p>
<p><br></br> By Andrew Gomes</p>
<p>POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jul 15, 2014</p>
<p><br></br> <strong>BUSINESS WIRE</strong><br></br> A…</p>
<p><a href="http://www.staradvertiser.com/businesspremium/20140715__Farm_aims_to_double_its_haul.html" target="_blank">http://www.staradvertiser.com/businesspremium/20140715__Farm_aims_to_double_its_haul.html</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span class="font-size-5">Farm aims to double its haul</span></p>
<p>The business's plan boosts the number and size of its fish cages off Kona</p>
<p><br/> By Andrew Gomes</p>
<p>POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jul 15, 2014</p>
<p><br/> <strong>BUSINESS WIRE</strong><br/> A diver swims among kampachi at a former Kona Blue Water Farms site that was acquired by Blue Ocean Mariculture LLC. Blue Ocean is seeking to expand the farm off Hawaii island.</p>
<p>A company that restarted a failed fish farm off Hawaii island's Kona Coast two years ago is proposing a major expansion that would more than double production of kahala, or almaco jack, sold under the brand name Hawaiian Kampachi.</p>
<p>Blue Ocean Mariculture LLC wants to increase the number and size of its underwater cages to boost annual fish production to 2.2 million pounds from about 900,000 pounds.</p>
<p>The company said its existing farm setup was designed to be a relatively small prototype operation and that the expansion is a "key next step" toward establishing a viable mariculture industry in Hawaii.</p>
<p>The effort by Blue Ocean is happening just as a company on Oahu is seeking to start up and raise moi after a previous moi farm off Ewa Beach, which was Hawaii's first open-ocean fish farm, failed.</p>
<p>On Oahu, Randy Cates of Mamala Bay Seafood LLC plans to raise 1.5 million pounds of moi at a 75-acre site adjacent to Honolulu Airport's reef runway in a $5 million startup venture projected to generate $6.3 million in annual sales at full production within three years.</p>
<p>Blue Ocean outlined its expansion plan in a draft environmental assessment recently submitted to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and published by the state Office of Environmental Quality Control.</p>
<p>The company, which leases 90 acres of state waters just offshore of Kona International Airport from DLNR, is seeking approval to deploy up to eight cages instead of five. Each cage's maximum size also would be increased to 8,000 cubic meters from 7,000 cubic meters under the plan.</p>
<p>Blue Ocean is not seeking to expand the area it leases, only to grow more fish within the area.</p>
<p>Last year Blue Ocean operated at its maximum permitted capacity, the environmental assessment said.</p>
<p>The company said in the assessment that increased production will increase the amount of fish poop and uneaten food affecting water quality but that the addition shouldn't create a significant negative impact given the strong current, deep water and sandy ocean floor in the lease area.</p>
<p>"The production capacity of the farm site will remain among the smallest in the industry, and the farm site hydrology and bottom composition enable the local marine environment to safely carry more production than proposed," Blue Ocean said in the assessment.</p>
<p>Blue Ocean added that it has several years of water quality test results that show no detrimental impact on the environment and that it will continue such tests, which are reported to DLNR, the state Department of Health and the federal Environmental Protection Agency.</p>
<p>Open-ocean fish farms have attracted opposition from environmentalists and others, including Food and Water Watch.</p>
<p>Neil Frazer, a University of Hawaii at Manoa geophysics professor who has written scientific articles and a book about the industry, criticized open-ocean fish farming in a 2010 opinion article in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on grounds that included the industry's use of fishmeal to feed fish, ocean waste contributions and succeptibility to disease.</p>
<p>Frazer contended that Blue Ocean's predecessor, Kona Blue Water Farms, had regular disease problems that put the company "on the road to drugs."</p>
<p>Kona Blue, which started commercial kampachi production in 2005, grew to harvest 1 million pounds of fish in 2008 valued at $8 million but ceased harvests in late 2009.</p>
<p>Blue Ocean, which acquired some Kona Blue assets including the ocean lease and resumed fish production in 2012, said in the environmental assessment that it is permitted by the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to treat bacterial infections at its farm with approved antibiotics and that there hasn't been an infection since February 2011.</p>
<p>Blue Ocean also said it uses a hydrogen peroxide bath to treat fish for external parasites.</p>
<p>Maria Haws, director of the Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, said in a letter to DLNR supporting Blue Ocean that the company and its predecessor have demonstrated over eight years that high-quality farmed fish can be raised in an environmentally responsible manner.</p>
<p>Haws, who commented as a private citizen and in her capacity as an aquaculture expert with more than 25 years of experience, noted that Hawaii imports over 50 percent of its seafood. "We cannot be certain that our imported seafood is produced sustainably and hence we as residents of Hawaii must take the responsibility to produce our own seafood using the best possible practices as determined by aquaculture and environmental science," she wrote.</p>
<p>Blue Ocean also received letters of support from customers including Seattle Fish Co., which sells Hawaiian Kampachi to Whole Foods and fine-dining restaurants.</p>
<p>Michael McNicholas, operations vice president for the U.S. subsidiary of Tokyo-based Uoriki Co. Ltd., said Blue Ocean's kampachi is the "star" of a sales program it calls American Sashimi.</p>
<p>McNicholas wrote that his company buys 16,000 pounds of kampachi a month and conservatively could sell four times as much in the short term and 15 to 20 times more in the longer term.</p>
<p>"Blue Ocean Mariculture is an example of aquaculture at its very, very best," he wrote. "One need only look at the customer list to know this. Our customers consider this the best tasting fish in sushi and it has replaced imports."</p>
<p>Blue Ocean said last year it sold about 40 percent of its kampachi in Hawaii and exported the rest.</p>
<p>The company said it anticipates increasing its staff from 21 full-time employees to 30 and raising annual payroll to $1.7 million from $1.2 million.</p>
<p>Blue Ocean needs a DLNR Conservation District Use Permit and a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit to proceed with its expansion plan. Public comments on the environmental assessment are being accepted by DLNR until Aug. 7.</p>
<p>For more information and to comment, visit health.hawaii.gov/oeqconline.</p>