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THE largest fish farm in America could be built four miles off the Californian coast. At 1.3 square miles, Rose Canyon Fisheries would be about the same size as New York’s Central Park. The goal is to produce 11 million pounds of yellowtail and sea bass each year.

The Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, the non-profit research arm of the theme park SeaWorld, is partnering with a private investment firm to create the aquaculture project, based off San Diago.

Don Kent, the president and CEO of Hubbs-SeaWorld, says he wants to help correct what he calls a ‘seafood imbalance’.

Some 91 per cent of America’s seafood is imported and, said Kent, the price is going up ‘higher and higher for people like us who have to import it’.

Rose Canyon Fisheries is still applying for permits, but Kent is already breeding yellowtail in his lab.

The project has met with opposition from environment groups.

Matt O’Malley, of San Diego Coastkeeper, said: ‘We’re talking about putting a floating factory farm right off the coast of San Diego.’

People with homes along the shore will be able to see the farm, and marine mammals could get caught in the farm’s nets and ropes.