By William Cole
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Department of Land and Natural Resources yesterday agreed to lease a 28-acre patch of ocean for the commercial production of fish in offshore sea cages.
The 15-year lease between the state and Kailua-based Cates International Inc. — the first of its kind in the nation — positions Hawai‘i to be at the forefront of open-ocean farming technology, said John Corbin, manager of the state Department of Agriculture’s Aquaculture Development Program.
"What I say to people is we have 4 million acres of land," Corbin said, "but with the opportunity to lease the ocean for aquaculture, we’ve added 8 million acres of state marine waters to look for potential sites."
Up to four 80-foot cages, each in the shape of two cones joined together and 50 feet across, will be anchored to the ocean floor two miles off ‘Ewa Beach for the production of moi, also known as Pacific threadfin.
"This historic agreement will provide a great boost to Hawaii’s growing aquaculture industry," said Gov. Ben Cayetano. "Work on this project could very well lead to large-scale expansion of the local aquaculture industry, not only in raising moi, but also other premium market fish."
The cages will be positioned 40 feet below the surface. Details still have to be finalized, but Cates is expected to lease the ocean floor substrate, a column of water above it, and corresponding surface area. Corbin said traversing the area should not be a problem.
Agriculture department officials, who could not give an estimated return on the lease, said rent will be based on a percentage of gross revenues to be determined by state officials and appraisal. Cates also will have a 10-year option to extend the lease. A demonstration version of the sea cage produced 40,000 pounds of moi in 1999.
The land department worked with the state Department of Agriculture to amend Chapter 190D of Hawai‘i Revised Statutes to allow commercial leases in the ocean and to explore the ocean’s potential.
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