Offshore Kona Fish Farm Seeks OK To Expand

Blue Ocean Mariculture LLC wants to expand its ocean kampachi farm in waters off Kona.

The company has prepared a draft environmental assessment, which was reviewed by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, and released for public review for a 30-day period that ends Aug. 7.

Blue Ocean wants to expands its growing volume from 24,000 cubic meters to 64,000 cubic meters, and increase its number of pens from five to eight. The company also wants to increase the size of its pens from 7,000 to 8,000 cubic meters.

The project will require modification of the facility’s existing underwater mooring grid, but no expansion of the lease area and no change in the types of net pens are being proposed, according to the draft EA.

The aquaculture facility, which has been operating off Kona International Airport for eight years, produces exclusively kamapachi (Seria rivoliana), marketed as premium, sashimi-grade Kampachi in Hawaii.

Blue Ocean Mariculture LLC acquired the hatchery and offshore mariculture assets of former owner Kona Blue Hawaii Farms in 2012.

Blue Ocean said in its application for the permit that monitoring over the past eight years has indicated no negative impact on the environment.

Anyone wishing to comment on the draft EA should contact the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands, Box 621, Honolulu HI 96809.

Call Michael Cain, 808-987-0048, for information.