KAILUA, KONA — Kona Blue Water Farms, which raises fish in open-ocean pens off the Kona Coast, is expanding production in Mexico.

The company plans to rear kahala, or amberjack, in the Sea of Cortez, also called the Gulf of California.

Kona Blue markets its amberjack as Kona Kampachi.

Neil Anthony Sims, co-founder and president, said the company will reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by hauling the fish to Los Angeles by truck from Mexico rather than flying it from Hawai'i.

Sims also said rumors that Kona Blue is leaving Hawai'i are untrue.