Great ideas have to start somewhere.
The idea for Cascadia Seaweed began as part of research into opportunities for
foreign direct investment
on Vancouver Island. A review of articles into emerging aquaculture science highlighted the work of Dr. Steve Cross and the idea of growing kelp along side fin fish farms.
Dr. Cross was incredibly open and enthusiastic about his work. It quickly became clear that Vancouver Island was the perfect place to cultivate seaweed. With more than 630 species naturally growing on the coast, Vancouver Island was the place!
Growing Kelp in Pristine Clear Water
Vancouver Island is about 800km long and faces the entire North pacific Ocean. It is incised by long and short deep-water fjords. It is recharged with clear salt water every day through tidal currents. There are limited ports on its west coast. However there are numerous deep water embayments teaming with life and quite suitable for seaweed cultivation.
Coastal Communities
There many communities along the coast. Each with the tradition of being on the water and extracting food from the ocean. While the natural resource industry has evolved and slowed the people remain in touch with their heritage. Kelp cultivation seemed like the natural choice to inject new opportunities and get people back on the water.
Servicing the Coastal Ecosystem
Sugar Kelp sheds 5 times its mass during its growth cycle. That means carbon sequestration. It also captures nutrients – there’s a surprise as it is nutritious. If there are excess nutrients in the water column it will take them up. This means nutrient sequestration! This is beneficial to coastlines where poor land use practice has resulted in fertilizers polluting the ocean.
Feeding the Planet
The idea of growing kelp in a ocean farm environment may feel new but in Asia they have been doing it for generations. In countries like Korea kelp is a very important source of food. We can learn quite a bit about growing and processing seaweed from the East. We also know that North American tastes are different. As the planet’s population heads towards 10B people plant-based protein from the sea presents a sustainable opportunity.
