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Raising fish
in cage gets
little opposition

Two critics say the ocean
plan would harm Native
Hawaiian fishing rights

By Harold Morse
Star-Bulletin

A company that wants to raise moi fish commercially in an open ocean cage two miles off Ewa Beach has support from the community and fishing industry representatives. But the aquaculture facility ran into questions from two Hawaiians who asked the Board of Land and Natural Resources for a contested case hearing.

During a Land Board hearing last night, Dawn Wasson and Glenn Oamilda requested the court-like hearing on the Cates International conservation district use application to operate in a 28-acre underwater area.

Wasson said it would negatively affect Native Hawaiian fishing rights. "It's unfair," she said. "It's an opening to stop Native Hawaiians from going to that area."

The Ewa Neighborhood Board recently voted to support the plan, but Oamilda said that board does not speak for the Hawaiian community. Hawaiians should be consulted and public participation should go into decision-making, he said.

"I see this whole project as very beneficial to the Hawaiian native groups," said Kailua resident Christopher Kalama. "What's happening seven generations from now?"

Edward Enos, whose wife Virginia is business partner of John "Randy" Cates, president of Cates International, said the moi project is food production. "We're trying to feed people," he said.

Cates later said no one's rights are being taken, that the cage is far enough out to sea to bother no one and that no one is being asked to stay out of the area.

"We're not asking for exclusive use except inside (the underwater cage)," he said.

No interaction has occurred with any fishermen or other vessels, he said. "We're not going to do anything that's going to hurt the environment. ... We have 100,000 fish in the cage right now. Mortalities are not a problem."

Ho'oipo DeCambra of Waianae said she spent months studying open ocean aquaculture in her role as a leader in urban planning. Although questions remain, the plan seems valid, she said.

"Our dream is that we need to explore economic development possibilities for our community in order to increase the quality of life for ourselves," she added. "I think we need to look at the cultural impact and concerns that Hawaiians have about open ocean aquaculture.

"I really believe this is a cutting edge progressive industry that will probably have all the world looking at us should we take this on as a commercial venture."

Harry Ako, University of Hawaii professor of molecular biosciences, testified the project represents an opportunity for economic development and advancement for Hawaiian people. "If you miss this opportunity, the rest of the world would catch up."

Hawaii is far ahead of the rest of the United States in aquaculture now, he said. "I think we have this opportunity to allow native Hawaiian groups to pull themselves up by the bootstraps."

Dennis Yee, who operates the firm Opihi Ventures, said: "It's only a matter of time that we humans will not have enough food for ourselves.

"I'm not saying that this project will solve the problems of the world, but it's a step in the right direction."