Cause of escapes addressed, says Kona Blue
29 June, 2006 -
HAWAIIAN offshore aquaculture company Kona Blue has said it has addressed the causes of escapes from its offshore surface cages.
The company, which farms Kona Kampachi off Hawaii’s Kona coast, was recently accused by US environmental group Food & Water Watch of having lost thousands of fish.
The group published a report claiming that four experimental farms that federal officials say validate their proposal to codify offshore aquaculture, are beset with economic, environmental and technological problems.
In a statement issued to Fish Farmer, Micheal Wink, CEO of Kona Blue said while the company did experience escapes, measures have been taken to remedy this.
“The exact number of escaping fish is difficult to determine, however the causes have been addressed,” he said.
“Kona Kampachi, as a native Hawaiian species, is not harmful to the aquatic environment and broodstock is collected from Hawaiian waters around our fishery. Kona Kampachi is not genetically altered and there is no overt selective breeding of Kona Kampachi in Kona Blue’s hatchery. Therefore, Kona Kampachi poses no threat to wild stocks or Kona’s superb ocean ecosystem.”
www.fishfarmer-magazine.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publishes FISHupdate.com, FISHupdate magazine, Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.
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