Description

Kona Blue Water Farms, LLC is an open ocean aquaculture operation that was founded in 2001 off the coast of Kona on Hawaii’s big island. Since its inception, Kona Blue has promoted itself as an environmental leader. Its Web site refers to farmed fish that are “sustainable from hatch to harvest” and an “environmentally friendly alternative” produced “without depleting wild fish stocks or harming the ocean environment.” In 2005, after several years of research and development, the company began producing a sushi-grade Hawaiian yellowtail which the locals call kahala, and is sold nationally as “Kona Kampachi.” It now bills itself as the “first integrated hatchery and fish farm in the country.” The farm produces around 25,000,pounds of kahala per week (as of March 2009) at about $17 per filleted pound when purchased directly. The majority of the product is destined for consumption on the American mainland.