Fish farm plans irk Lanai anglers

Who the hell cares about all your opinions, People of Lanai and only people of Lanai needs to make a decision on what they want!!

Can't understand why everyone is getting upset; it doesn't mention how far off Lanai they plan on anchoring these pens. All that is mentioned is the diameter and deep.
I want more information before you get any serious comments from me.

And besides that, Tutu miss eating opakapaka; because it's illegal to fish it.

TutuSaid wrote:

Can't understand why everyone is getting upset; it doesn't mention how far off Lanai they plan on anchoring these pens. All that is mentioned is the diameter and deep.
I want more information before you get any serious comments from me.
And besides that, Tutu miss eating opakapaka; because it's illegal to fish it.

Aloha tutu - opakapaka and 6 other bottomfish species including onaga and gindai are currently off-limits as it is a closed season.

But what we need to remember is that this close season and quota system that is now in place is a precautionary management measure based on current "best available science". What is the current "best available science"? You got me because the truth is the state of Hawaii has failed miserably to manage the bottomfishery and therefore state and federal fisheries managers have absolutely no clue as to the stock levels. Every management measure currently in place is a WAG. Wild A-- Guess.

There is a huge disconnect between the fishermen who target these bottomfish and the fisheries managers. Fishermen who utilize and know the resource and grounds well says theres a lot of fish and there's no problem yet the fisheries managers say otherwise. We hope these two groups can meet in the middle one day and agree on management that is acceptable to all parties.

On the depth and location of the cage issue we just have to remember - the cage is a small spec in the middle of a huge ocean. Yes it will also be a boon to local fishermen as the cage will guarantee attract more fish to the area. I have no idea why they are so anti.

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

Go Warriors wrote:

<quoted text>
give me a break! this proposed fish farm is only 80 feet in diameter!

Uh...no, read the story again. The proposed area is 80.5 ACRES.

Eh, you Lanai kanakas. Yeah you! No need farm or eat Opakapaka, Onaga, etc. You Lanains need to eat your Talapia! From the Ala Wai Canal. Ummm taste good! No need export from you guys. I geevum to you fo free! Just azz da kine.

Fish farming is not some new radical idea. Look at the nubers of fish ponds on all the islands, many now now longer in use. There used to be rock piles set on the flat reefs where locals used attract manini, kole, kumu and such. Harvesting and then leaving them alone again for a period. It is an old way of doing things.
Seems to me, that if farmed stock can be harvested to satisfy the consumers, it would take the pressure off commerical harvest of the wild stock. Better to find the "middle way" or lose out entirely.

There are a lot of reasons to be concerned about this proposal to create a fish farm off the coast of Lanai...

Yes, GoWarriors, the cage is only 80 feet in diameter, but the effects will be spread much wider than that. The chemicals, feed and hormones that may be released into the cage will detrimentally affect the local marine life. Wild populations could be harmed by the chemicals, reducing their capacity to procreate. Furthermore, disease is contracted and spread much more easily when fish are packed tight into cages, and has been documented to spread out of farms and into wild populations, which could devastate the (already-suffering) stock of pink snapper that live in the region. Look to the problems that are plaguing fish farms in Chile for a classic example of fish-farming gone awry -- their farms are teeming with diseases like sea lice and it's affecting wild populations of salmon there.

The fact that this farming site would be located in humpback whale sanctuary waters is another major cause for concern. Ocean fish farming is still a dangerous new field and shouldn't be tested in such sensitive habitat. It is also prime fishing territory for local fishermen and would affect their ability to earn a fair living.

This fish farming venture by Maui Fresh Fish is probably most concerning because it privatizes what is otherwise public property, part of the global commons. Lanai shouldn't stand for this.

sad wrote:

Local people need to wake up. Industries like this is what we need to diversify our economy. Especially a low-impact operation like this one. As long as they monitor and control the stock for disease/genetic defects/escapees/etc. then fine we should support this. With the growing world population the demand for food sources increase. The wild stocks are finite and can only sustain a certain level of harvest. Aquaculture operations can help supplement the wild caught stocks.
Unfortunately too many locals have the NIMBY disease and cant look past the forest.

You must be an Oahu townie, just like the sewerferry.

Just hope Maui county does not get depleted, just look at Oahu. How many times has the DLNR stopped Oahu townies trying to smuggle opihi, fish, etc. on the sewerferry!

fisherman wrote:

<quoted text>
Aloha tutu - opakapaka and 6 other bottomfish species including onaga and gindai are currently off-limits as it is a closed season.
But what we need to remember is that this close season and quota system that is now in place is a precautionary management measure based on current "best available science". What is the current "best available science"? You got me because the truth is the state of Hawaii has failed miserably to manage the bottomfishery and therefore state and federal fisheries managers have absolutely no clue as to the stock levels. Every management measure currently in place is a WAG. Wild A-- Guess.
There is a huge disconnect between the fishermen who target these bottomfish and the fisheries managers. Fishermen who utilize and know the resource and grounds well says theres a lot of fish and there's no problem yet the fisheries managers say otherwise. We hope these two groups can meet in the middle one day and agree on management that is acceptable to all parties.
On the depth and location of the cage issue we just have to remember - the cage is a small spec in the middle of a huge ocean. Yes it will also be a boon to local fishermen as the cage will guarantee attract more fish to the area. I have no idea why they are so anti.

Because where you think this company will sell their fish. Local fishermen will not have a chance!!!!!!!

I agree with the fisherman and divers of Lanai. Commercial business's have one main goal, to make a profit. Here on Oahu, Moi is being farmed offshore. The people of hawaii still need to buy them at the markets if they want to eat them. There are less and less Moi around the shoreline everyday. How many are being released ? Enough to replenish, I don't think so. It's all about money and greed, and using a reason like "helping the people of Hawaii. Let the Lanai fisherman and divers decide!!!

To Waianae Moke,

First of all, the people on Lana'i are nothing like Moloka'i. Most of the island works. Like "Lana'i is Beautiful" said, "Lana'i is not going to benefit anything from it". I went to the meeting that MAUI FRESH FISH came to on Lana'i. 10 jobs aren't enough. The rest of the workers will come from Maui. No fish will be sold on Lana'i. Also, MAUI FRESH FISH wants to put the aqua pods where our fishing and diving grounds are. There are so many factors you haven't looked into. Before you write things. Learn the details.

Waianae Moke wrote:

Here we go again. Remember Molokai? This type of operation is already in Kona. I would think the pens will attract more fish to the area. It will provide jobs to the people of Lanai.
Wake up Lanai!! Don't be STUPID!!!

L&#256;NA’I IS NOTHING LIKE MOLOKAI!!! Most of our island has jobs. If you’ve never been to L&#257;na’i or the meetings, you shouldn’t be writing anything negative about our choice in what happens here. You don’t know what happened at the meetings.
We’re not benefiting from this at all. Maui Fresh Fish said in the meeting that they won’t be replenishing fish to our island. Most of the jobs will be from Maui. No fish will be sold on L&#257;na’i. We were told that we would have to go to Maui to buy fish. Another thing they said was that MOST of the fish will be processed and sent to the mainland. There are sooo much you don't know about.

Read the proposal and come to the meetings before you want to talk c rap about our decision here on L&#257;na’i.

LANA’I IS NOTHING LIKE MOLOKAI!!! Most of our island has jobs. If you’ve never been to Lana’i or the meetings, you shouldn’t be writing anything negative about our choice in what happens here. You don’t know us or what we’re about.
We’re not benefiting from this at all. Maui Fresh Fish said in the meeting that they won’t be replenishing fish to our island. Most of the jobs will be from Maui. No fish will be sold on Lana’i. We were told that we would have to go to Maui to buy fish. Another thing they said was that MOST of the fish will be processed and sent to the mainland.
Read the proposal and come to the meetings before you want to talk c rap about our decision here on Lana’i.

Go Warriors wrote:

<quoted text>
give me a break! this proposed fish farm is only 80 feet in diameter! do you know how small that is? it's just a speck on the ocean. how is that a "huge loss" their prime fishing area?
i think these fishermen are being selfish and don't want to share "their" ocean with anyone else. funny, because they don't even own it. the state does.

You dont know anything! It's not 80 feet in diameter. It's 62!!! Read the proposal before acting like you know. There will be 10 cages (5 on each side) and a feeding barge within the grid. The grid is held in place horizontally by a series of 14 large anchors (likely concrete blocks) and connecting lines (that could hurt whales). The grid lines and anchor lines are large diameter ropes and are held rigid by the submerged buoys. 5,500 feet long and 4,500 feet wide.

With today's fuel prices, why would they want to put the farm on Lanai when they will eventually need to have them shipped from Oahu anyway? Why not put them somewhere on Oahu where it will be cheaper? Is the water offshore there much cheaper to lease? Why bother the neighbor island people? Oahu people don't mind more jobs, high paying or not.

It will be a sad day in Hawaii when this happens! Look what salmon farming has done to the coastal waters of Chile...distroyed habitats of the local fish population with high concentrations of fish waste as well as excess feed contaminating local fish stock with antibiotics

allen kaiaokamalie is my grandpa

i think people actually need to do some research before they open their mouths sometimes. i've actually looked into this company and its trying to do everything the right way. environmentally and socially. and to the person who thinks lanai is an example of a place that is working well without any outside influence, when was the last time you where there? more so, when was the last time you spoke to informed people about this situation? they have no industry that can provide financial support there outside of a dwindling tourist industry. just like the rest of maui county, there needs to be a source of fiscal income that does not revolve around tourism.