GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
University of Hawaii microbiology professor Harry Ako is also president of Ahi Aquaculture Farms. The company wants permission to lease a portion of the ocean a mile off the Waianae Coast to raise ahi in open cages.
UH professor
plans tuna farmThe venture qualifies for
tax credits and would be established
off the Waianae Coast
It would be like a ranch in the ocean.
But instead of cattle, a University of Hawaii professor is hoping to raise and fatten ahi in open ocean cages off the Waianae Coast.
Ahi Aquaculture Farms is asking the state for permission to lease a portion of the ocean a mile offshore of Kepuhi Point and Maili Point. The company wants to place 18 cages about 660 feet in circumference and 50 to 60 feet deep in waters with a depth of about 100 feet.
Each cage would hold up to 2,000 juvenile yellow tail and big eye tuna bought from local fishermen. The fish would be raised until they weigh about 100 pounds each and are ready for market.
The company was granted state high technology tax credit under Act 221, allowing the project's local financial backers to claim 100 percent tax credit over five years on their investment.
"We raise moi, we raise salmon. Nobody raises tuna," said Harry Ako, president of Ahi Farms and a UH professor who has done research on aquaculture for 10 years. "It (the ahi cage farm) fits in the biotechnology category (of Act 221)," he said.
Environmental concerns raised by Big Island fishermen and residents have delayed a proposed ahi farm off of Kawaihae.
But Ako said the Waianae Coast is perfect for aquaculture because of the relatively calm waters and the strong currents which would sweep away excess fish food and fish waste products.
"You choose the site based on pollution prevention," Ako said.
Based on studies done on the Cates International moi cages off of Ewa, Ako said, "there will be no impact as regards to water chemistry changes."
Ako said the ocean water near the Cates cages showed no difference in water quality. He said the only change to the environment from the moi cage was an increase in microscopic worms under the cage.
That can be fixed, he said, by moving the cages every couple of years to allow the area to return to its native state.
Sierra Club director Jeff Mikulina said the environmental group hasn't taken a position on whether they will support or oppose the project.
"We're still looking into it, seeing what its impacts might be," he said.
Mikulina said Ahi Farms met with the Sierra Club and answered a lot of questions, but they still have concerns about what happens if the fish escape and the concentration of nutrients increases from uneaten fish food and fish waste.
"Ultimately, where is Hawaii heading?" he asked. "Are we going to ring the islands with fish farms?"
Ako said he hopes to start the project in January with three cages. That could be expanded to up to 12 cages in the first year. If the business works out, the fish farm would provide up to 120 jobs, he said.
Ako estimates with regular feeding, the fish could increase their weight by at least 1 percent a day and be ready for market in six months.
Because they can control the diet of the ahi, the quality of the meat would be high and the fish wouldn't "burn." The meat of the fish is sometimes damaged or "burns" during the struggle to reel the ahi in when they are caught using hook and line. Ahi Farms would be able to harvest the meat without "burning," he said.
Ako has been meeting with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, community members and other interested parties to explain the fish farm.
He said he is working with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Rep. Maile Shimabukuro (D, Waianae) to provide job training as part of the project.
Waianae fisherman William Aila said he wants to know more about the project and whether the investors are just in it to claim the tax credit.
"If the motivation is to provide and grow a new industry in conjunction with the community then that (the project) would be a good thing," he said.
Aila said the cages will enhance fishing in the area because it will attract bait fish. But he is concerned about access to waters around the cages. "If they want a large part of the ocean to be off limits then they shouldn't expect community support," he said.
Ako said he expects fishermen to still be able to fish in the area around the cages.
