Open-ocean cages get state’s approval

Officials of Hawaii Oceanic Technology Inc. said Thursday the company has received a state permit that allows it to move forward with its plan to raise bigeye and yellowfin tuna in open-ocean cages.

The state Department of Health issued Hawaii Oceanic Technology a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit effective April 30, the company said in a news release. It took the company more than a year to obtain the permit, which required a public review, a response to comments from the public and several nongovernmental organizations, according Bill Spencer, chief executive officer of Hawaii Ocean Technology. The company is obtaining an Army Corps of Engineers permit, which would be the last required before the company can "execute its business plan," Spencer said.

Hawaii Oceanic Technology hopes to have its first "Ocean­sphere" fish cage off the coast of Hawaii island by 2013. The company has permits and approval for 12 of the cages on a 247-acre fish farm 2.6 miles off the North Kohala coast.

Spencer estimated the farm will produce 6,000 tons of tuna per year. The fish will be marketed as "King Ahi."