An Oahu fish farming technology company says it needs more time to launch what it describes as the world’s first free-floating “egg to fish” ahi farm off the Kohala Coast.
This week, Hawaii Ocean Technology Inc. will be asking the state Board of Land and Natural Resources for its third time extension to begin building the 180-foot wide oceansphere — the first in up to 12 such pens the state approved for a 247-acre farm located three miles west of Malae Point.
Regulatory hurdles, challenging economic times and a project that “pushes the envelope” on the innovation end have worked to delay the farm, said Bill Spencer, CEO of HOTI.
The company first received state approval in 2009, followed by two extensions to build, issued by BLNR over the objections of numerous Kohala residents.
The company had sought clearance from the Army Corp of Engineers in 2009 to build the 12 untethered pens in 1,400 feet of water. A year later, HOT scaled back to just one sphere to start, at the Army Corps’ recommendation. In 2013, the Army Corps approved a permit allowing one sphere to be deployed for a single harvest cycle.
“It’s a long-term project with big vision that takes deep pockets and an investor to hang in there for the long term,” Spencer said.
Spencer believes his company has found such an investor, and plans to design, build and deploy the first sphere within two years. Although approved by the state for a dozen spheres, HOTI is not sure how many it will build. A lot rides on how well the first one performs, Spencer said.
“Four spheres would be a nice business for us,” he said.
“Our guiding principal is that we’re trying to do an environmentally responsible form of fish farming,” Spencer said.
About 1,700 residents signed a petition opposing the farm, and opponents sent the BLNR some 400 letters of objection to the first time extension in 2012.
Kohala resident Wendy Minor said she has watched numerous variations on the plan and technology over the years, and is skeptical of their feasibility.
“I have watched as HOTI has altered their technology to try to make this project work. Since HOTI cannot bring this project to fruition, then it’s time the BLNR says no extension,” Minor said. “This project has all along been more science fiction than reality.”
Kawaihae resident Diane Kanealii said her opposition to the project remains firm.
“They came to the BLNR for approvals way too early in the process,” she said in an email on Tuesday. “They have not been successful in implementing the plans they submitted. I believe they should not be granted the extension and be required to come back to BLNR when the technology and all concerns have been addressed and have a implementable plan. Things have changed since they were granted the first approvals, climate change is happening and our coral reefs are bleaching out and dying. The impact of theses type of large ocean projects could and most likely would further impact the health of the ocean ecosystem.”
Fish farms have raised red flags globally for pollution and the spread of diseases in oceans. But Spencer said his plan doesn’t have the problems of near-shore operations. Instead, waste will be flushed and dispersed by massive amounts of offshore water. The fish, being higher off the ocean floor, will not suffer the same diseases that some other farms experience, he said.
Based on his own outreach, Spencer said he believes the project has as many supporters as it does detractors.
“Give us a chance to show our heart is in the right place and our approach is a good one,” he said. “If we fail, we’ll clean up after ourselves and go away. But if we succeed, people are going to be happy.”
Using a system of thrusters to hold it stationary about 60 feet below the surface, the sphere will feature an automated feeding system and a series of water quality monitors. The structure will have room for an estimated 100 tons of yellowfin and bigeye tuna.
The first sphere will cost at least $10 million to develop, Spencer said.
Residents and fishermen worry about pollution and also competition from cheap, farm-raised fish.
“The beautiful pristine waters along the Kohala coast are too precious a resource to experiment with the unproven technology of an industrial size fish farm,” Minor said.
