In the shallow depths just off the shores of Waikiki on Oahu, a gargantuan, stealthy, ship-looking vessel appears to cruise the sea bottom dwarfing the scuba divers who traverse its side. Upon closer inspection, we discover that it is not a vessel, but a submersible cage full of life resting on the sea floor, being fed from above by an umbilical cord.
This is the Sea-Station 3000 underwater fish farm. This giant rigid net creates an enclosed fish tank under the water creating an environment for raising all sorts of fish to then sell at market.
“The SeaStation 3000 has an interior volume of 3,000 cubic meters (hence its name), which translates into 792,516 gallons, or more water than in most of the palatial hotel swimming pools along Waikiki Beach. The cages, which each weigh 10 tons and cost around $110,000, can be submerged in just 15 minutes by flooding the hollow spar with ocean water.” -Osha Gray Davidson, Popular Science, “The Farmer Goes to Sea“, 3/16/2006
The idea here is sustainable aquaculture–learning how to raise enough fish in a healthy way to both meet the worldwide demand for safe, sustainable fish while not harming the surrounding environment.
From the Photographer:
“SeaStation 3000 with feeding tube approximately 40 feet below the surface offshore of Honolulu, Hawaii.” Photo Date: 2000
