Hawaii to get massive floating fish farms

New York: A US firm has started work on huge floating cages that will hold 1,000 tonnes of fish in the deep sea off Hawaii`s coast.

Hawaii Oceanic Technology Inc. (HOTI) has received permits to build 12 cages, which it calls "Oceanospheres", in a 247-acre area off the coast of Hawaii which it has leased out. The floating fish farms will be 180 feet wide cages submerged at a depth of 20 metres. The farms will raise tuna fish from egg to harvest size in a self contained system. The company hopes to harvest fish within 18 months. "Our goal is to develop a new, environmentally responsible way to raise tuna in deep waters," Bill Spencer, CEO of HOTI was quoted as saying in media reports. HOTI hopes to cash in on ocean fish farming which is estimated to be a $75 billion market by 2020, West Hawaii Today reported.