Big Island Ocean Aquaculture Project - Draft EIS Available

This month's Environmental Notice contained an interesting project involving aquaculture in ocean waters near the Big Island, Hawaii.

From the note:

Hawaii Oceanic Technology, Inc. proposes to produce Yellowfin and Bigeye tuna in which the fingerlings are grown in land-based tanks then grown out to market size in offshore submerged cages, that are self-powered un-tethered "Oceanspheres." The proposed ocean lease site is a one square kilometer (247-acre) site, located 2.6 nautical-miles offshore Malae Point, North Kohala which is outside of the designated whale sanctuary. Twelve Oceanspheres will be deployed incrementally over four years, culminating with an annual production capacity of 6,000 tons.

The note has a link to the draft EIS for the project which requires permits from both the State and Federal governments.  The applicant's website has some illustrations:

Commenters must do so in 45 days and should direct comments to the applicant:  Hawaii Oceanic Technology, 425 South Street, Suite 2902, Honolulu, HI 96813. Contact: Bill Spencer, Chief Executive Officer, Tel: 225-3579, Fax: 528-4751.

Comments

[Andrew]

This looks similar to the project in Puerto Rico... very cool.