Portugal bets on offshore farms to triple aquaculture production

Portugal's Minister of Aquaculture and Fisheries expects an expanding offshore aquaculture sector will help the country triple its aquaculture production by 2015, from 7,000 to 21,000 metric tons, according to a news report from FIS.

The minister, Antonio Serrano, said a "very substantial financial volume" is available through national programs to those interested in operating in the sector.

Hawaii leads nation in support of offshore aquaculture

Hawaii Oceanic Technology expects to deploy its Oceanspheres by 2013

Hawaii's Board of Land and Natural Resources this week granted a 35-year lease to Hawaii Oceanic Technology to farm tuna on its 247-acre offshore fish farm, according to a press release from the company.

Bill Spencer, the company's CEO, says the lease sets a "historic precedent for Hawaii and the United States."

The company's site is in state waters, but offshore in 1,320 feet of water. While the United States lacks a regulatory framework to permit offshore fish farms in federal waters, Hawaii is the only state with a comprehensive legal framework that allows open ocean aquaculture and leasing an ocean column to companies that want to farm the sea, according to the company. 

Hawaii Oceanic Technology, founded in 2006, plans to farm Yellow Fin and Big Eye tunas and market them as “King Ahi”. The company expects to have its first patent-pending fish cage, called the Oceansphere, deployed by 2013.