Latest news with #Hawaii-based
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
EPA grants permit for fish farm demonstration off Sarasota County coast
SARASOTA COUNTY (WFLA) — For the last seven years, Hawaii-based Ocean Era has been working to bring a fish farm demonstration to Florida's Gulf Coast. Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency approved a permit that allows the company to move forward with its plans. The demonstration project calls for up to 20,000 red drum or red fish in a net pen with multiple mooring anchors. The fish farm would be located in the Gulf about 40 miles off the coast of Sarasota County in water that is about 130 feet deep. New Florida law adds requirement before teens can get behind the wheel 'The pen will be designed so that it can be submerged 30 to 45 feet below the surf surface, so at night or when a storm is coming through, the net pen can be submerged,' said Ocean Era founder Neil Anthony Sims. 'We think as people look at this, they're going to come to understand this is a great opportunity for producing delicious seafood, for creating employment opportunities and it is going to be a spectacular fishing location. Whenever you put structure out in the ocean whether it be a fish farm or an oil rig or a fish aggregating device, fish will gather around that and I think the Florida fishing community is going to really love offshore aquaculture.' Sims says he hopes to show the Gulf Coast community that offshore aquaculture is a safe and sustainable option for growing and harvesting fresh seafood locally. 'At the moment, we are importing red drum from Mauritius on the other side of the planet. They are farming them there and now they are shipping the fish back to us here. That makes no environmental sense in terms of the carbon footprint of those fish, but it is also jobs that we could be creating here in the US,' said Sims. Ocean Era's efforts have not come without pushback. Environmental groups have joined forces to express their opposition to the project. One of those groups is Suncoast Waterkeeper. Executive Director Abbey Tyrna says there are a number of concerns that she and others have about the project, which would be the first of its kind in the Gulf. 'Not only is there a concern for nitrogen pollution, which is something that local governments on the Suncoast have worked really hard to eliminate from our waters, now this is a direct input into our waters of nitrogen that fuels harmful algal blooms. That is a prominent concern, but then also the disease that are known to spread from these farms into the wild population,' said Tyrna. 'We are also worried about harm to endangered species, especially sea turtles that are going to congregate around where food is provided, so what kind of harm is it for them given that the cage is now monofilament line, which can be harmful to all kinds of species regarding entanglement, given that it is really hard to see. Taken together, it is just not a project that we would like to see here on the Suncoast.' Sims said he understands the concerns, but said studies have proven that in deep waters that are far enough offshore, there are no significant environmental impacts. 'Images we have of the offshore fish farm here in Kona, Hawaii show that it really has minimal impact on water quality. This is validated by the fact that cauliflower coral grows profusely on the structures on the fish farm. For the fish farm it actually becomes a problem, but they are taking those cauliflower coral and working with NOAA and other environmental groups to use that for replanting on the reefs here in Hawaii. That is validation that the water quality on the fish farm really is not impacted by the fish themselves,' said Sims. There is still time left for someone to appeal the EPA's ruling this month. However, if not, Sims said we could see the net pen in the Gulf by the end of this year or early next year. 'What we would like to see as marine biologist and environmentalists, we want to see more seafood grown in the ocean. This demonstration project we hope will help the community understand, if we grow this industry there in the Gulf, that it is going to be something they are going to learn to love,' said Sims. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Seeing farther, striking deeper, this brigade is pushing its drones
Soldiers with the Hawaii-based 25th Infantry Division are in the midst of a training exercise with Philippine allies that has them pushing farther and striking deeper with the help of new drones. The 2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, is forward deployed in the Philippines, training with the 7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Armed Forces as part of a Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center, or JPMRC, exercise. Maj. Gen. Marcus Evans, 25th Infantry Division commanding general, told Army Times on Monday that the most challenging part of the exercise so far has been the environmental factors. High temperatures and monsoon conditions have slammed troops as they've operated across islands and jungles in the Luzon area of the Philippines. The exercise marks the brigade's second evolution of the Army's Transformation in Contact, or TIC, initiative following its first evolution in 2024. As part of the initiative, which seeks to modernize and evolve formations as they prepare for real-world deployments, soldiers received new drones, counter-drone equipment and electronic warfare tools. First armor brigade conducts combat training center rotation with new tools Since then, the unit has been issued farther-reaching drones with both medium- and long-range capabilities, giving soldiers nearly 10 times the range of previous drones. Last year, units were limited to about a 3-kilometer distance for drones to scout enemy locations. Now they can see, sense and strike targets as far as 30 kilometers out, Evans said. 'It creates increased survivability,' Evans said of the striking range. 'It enhances their ability to protect themselves with greater standoff and strike with loitering munitions or weaponized drones.' Meanwhile, the brigade also brought 3D printing capabilities, which it has used to make replacement parts for equipment and build nearly 50 first-person-view drones so far during the exercise, he said. The brigade brought an estimated 2,000 soldiers from Hawaii and Guam for the exercise, with Philippine partners bringing about the same amount of manpower. They're facing off against a simulated battalion-size enemy force equipped with its own drone, counter-drone and electronic warfare capabilities. During its Philippine rotation last year, which was also an exportable combat training center evolution, the brigade didn't have infantry squad vehicles. This time, however, it does, and the vehicles have made a major difference for troops in both mobility and sustainability, Evans said. The Army's TIC initiative first focused on the brigade level with dismounted units. The second iteration is looking to make similar changes in mechanized or armor formations. That also ties in division-level assets. On this run for the 2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team, the 25th Infantry Division is using its headquarters to simulate a larger force and bringing division assets, such as long-range fires, to the brigade. Troops are also using the 25th Infantry Division headquarters to synchronize and integrate with the Philippine's 7th Infantry Division headquarters, Evans said. '[Their] main objective is procedural interoperability,' Evans said. 'U.S. and Philippine forces train sustainment, movement and maneuver together. See further, sense better and be able to strike.' Following the initial field training, the units will gather at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, and then conduct a combined maritime, land and air movement of more than 400 kilometers into 'enemy' territory north of the outpost to Camp Melchor F. dela Cruz in mid-June, he said.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Servco Pacific recognized 6x for outstanding management
HONOLULU (KHON2) — A Hawaii-based company has been honored for the sixth year in a row for the achievements of its management teams. Servco Pacific has once again been named a U.S. Best Managed Company Gold Standard Honoree. Dermatologist says skin damage from the sun can only take 10 to 60 minutes Jondi Anderson, vice president of human resources at Servco Pacific, said the recognition is part of a global Deloitte Private program. She noted this is the sixth consecutive year the company has received the honor, which they believe reflects their management philosophy and reinforces Servco's 106-year legacy in the islands — and its commitment to the the award highlights the accomplishments of management teams, Anderson emphasized that it's a collaborative effort made possible by team members who embody the company's service-minded mentality. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news The U.S. Best Managed Companies program recognizes outstanding private companies for achievements in four key areas: strategy, execution, culture, and governance and financial performance. An external panel of judges selects honorees based on those criteria. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Korea Herald
27-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
CU to launch in US with Hawaii debut
CU, South Korea's leading convenience store brand operated by BGF Retail, is set to launch in the United States through a master franchise agreement with Hawaii-based CU Hawaii LLC. This marks the first time a Korean convenience store chain has entered the US market. The partnership was formalized at a signing ceremony attended by BGF Retail CEO Min Seung-bae and CU Hawaii LLC CEO Robert Kurisu. The companies plan to open CU's first store in Hawaii this October, followed by an expansion into key commercial districts across the state. Under the agreement, CU Hawaii LLC will operate the stores and collect royalties, leveraging CU's established brand and business model. With over 10 million annual visitors and a high concentration of Asian and mixed-ethnicity populations, demand is growing for affordable, high-quality food and retail services in Hawaii, CU said. CU plans to localize its offerings through a hybrid retail model that blends Korean-style ready-to-eat meals and snacks with US consumer preferences. Examples include kimbap and instant ramyeon as well as locally inspired fusion items such as poke and loco moco. The stores will also incorporate retail technologies, including self-checkout zones and optimized layouts. Kurisu, who initiated the partnership after several visits to Korea, said Hawaii's limited retail choices and rising costs created a strong need for a new distribution model. 'CU is a fresh, compelling concept that fits the Hawaiian market perfectly,' he said. CU currently operates 680 stores across Mongolia, Malaysia and Kazakhstan, and seeks to further globalize the Korean convenience store model through its US debut.
GMA Network
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Bretman Rock celebrates anniversary with BF Justice Fester
Bretman Rock and his boyfriend, Justice Fester, are celebrating another year of being together. On TikTok, Bretman shared an adorable video of them painting each other's likeness on rocks. 'Happy Anniversay to the sweetest boy ever! I look forward to doing self portrait rock paintings with you forever. Next years will be so much better haha,' the internet star wrote in his caption. Bretman first hinted about his boyfriend just before Pride Month 2024. Shortly after their viral posts together, he confirmed through Instagram Stories that he and Justice are indeed a couple. In March, the Hawaii-based couple went to Bohol and visited the Chocolate Hills. —Carby Rose Basina/JCB, GMA Integrated News
