October 22, 2014

The U.S. is the world’s third biggest consumer of seafood but only produces 9% domestically, instead relying upon foreign imports of which over half are farmed.  Hubbs SeaWorld, the non-profit research facility associated with SeaWorld has partnered with private equity firm Cuna del Mar to build a 300,000 square foot fish farm off the coast of San Diego that will produce 5,000 tons (10 million fish) of California yellowtail per year.   The project, called Rose Canyon, has many hurdles to face before beginning production.  Initially planned to be built a half mile off the coast, the project ran into opposition for being too close to shore and was moved 4.5 miles off the coast.  It must also still obtain permits from the Army Corp of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the California Coastal Commission, the Coast Guard, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife which is expected to take about 18 months, to be followed by two years of design, construction, and start-up operations before the first harvest.  But with 12% of the nation’s population between the coastal regions of San Diego and Santa Barbara, Don Kent, president of the Hubbs SeaWorld Research Institute believes that the project can set a new paradigm and reinvigorate the seafood industry and provide an alternative source of protein to imports.

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