Nature-based Solutions
Background
When Cascadia Seaweed was founded in 2019, we saw an opportunity to create a solid business that enhances the natural environment and provides economic opportunity for Indigenous coastal communities.
Now, we know the opportunity — and our imperative — expands much further.
We recognize the importance of seaweed as an essential element in ocean ecosystems, providing habitat, producing oxygen, and capturing carbon. However, due to the changing climate and warming ocean temperatures, natural stocks are in decline and need restoration. We believe that by cultivating local species of seaweed in the ocean at scale, we can meet the growing demand for seaweed-derived products while conserving wild populations.
In the past five years, Cascadia Seaweed has become recognized globally as an expert in seaweed cultivation, from designing and building farms, developing seed and nursery technologies, to outplanting and harvesting techniques, along with processing and producing value-added products while complying with a broad regulatory framework.
Now, as the largest ocean cultivator of seaweed in North America, we are offering consulting services to a global audience interested in innovative services and technologies related to seaweed cultivation and restoration projects to amplify the benefits for our collective survival.
Do you have a seaweed-based project in mind?
Project Summary
Vancouver Island Seaweed Capacity Study
Client
BC Government, Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation via Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood Limited Partnership.
Date
March 2020 - August 2023
Description
This project centers on the capacity of Vancouver Island communities to build and operate seaweed farms. Cascadia team members visited communities and gathered data on workforce and skill sets along with physical infrastructure such as roads, jetties and processing facilities. The project delivered two virtual workshops and a capacity report.
Pre-Feasibility Study for a Canadian Centre for Seaweed Research
Client
The City of Port Alberni
Date
February - November 2021
Description
The project was a pre-feasibility study with the aim of establishing the "Canadian Centre for Seaweed Research" (CCSR) in Port Alberni. The study involved consultations, scientific literature reviews, field visits, and participation in seaweed-focused forums. It emphasizes the potential of seaweed-based industries for regenerative ocean-based resource development. The report outlines operational
considerations, proposing a virtual CCSR initially, with potential transitions to collaborative research center or consultancy models. It also discusses ownership and naming considerations, including Indigenous involvement, and provides recommendations for next steps in realizing the CCSR in Port Alberni.
Agritech: Advancing the Seaweed Sector in British Columbia
Client
BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Date
April 2021 - May 2022
Description
The project was to deliver advances in seaweed cultivation including farm design to maximize production, techniques to improve efficiencies of seeding and harvesting and initial processing by converting a finfish processing line to a seaweed processing line. A five line array of seaweed cultivation infrastructure was delivered.
Construction of Seaweed Farms
Client
Uchucklesaht Tribe Government, Ahousaht First Nation and Klahoose First Nation
Date
January 2023
Description
This work covered the design and build of farms for seaweed cultivation near Diplock Island, Clayoquot Sound and off Cortes Island, Vancouver Island BC. These three farms
comprised approximately 35 hectares.
Impact of Seaweed Cultivation on Wild Salmon
Client
Government of Canada, BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BC SRIF)
Date
April 2022 - March 2024
Description
Prime objective was to sample fish biodiversity. Specifically, the project investigated ocean physics and chemistry by sampling water chemistry, zooplankton biodiversity, kelp cover, and water motion. Two farms were built and instrumented with instrument packages also deployed at reference sites about 400m away from each farm. Measurements were taken every 20 minutes for 13 months for the purpose of building an extremely rich and high-resolution understanding of how the kelp farms affect oceanographic parameters compared to the nearby reference sites.
Green Gravel Production System
Client
National Research Council of Canada (NRC)
Date
Feb 2023 - March 2024
Description
Cascadia Seaweed engineering team has designed and built a seaweed nursery to deploy about 120km of seaweed seed lines. As part of this design, Cascadia produced Green Gravel for outplanting and testing. Results led to a contract to redesign a Green Gravel Production System for the Canadian Government. This contract was for the delivery of a 20ft container consisting of laboratory space and aquaculture trays to produce approximately 100 m2 of seaweed seedlings for seabed deployment. The nursery is self contained requiring only water hookup and power and was designed to be deployed in close proximity to coastal seabeds where kelp reforestation is planned.
Conservation and Sustainable Management of Marine Ecosystems (COSME)
Client
PLAN International
Date
Feb 2023 - March 2025
Description
This project aims to scale up resilient livelihoods for Kenyan women in the blue economy and improve community coastal management by introducing nature-based approaches in three areas: i) restoring and conserving mangroves; ii) managing and conserving forests; and iii) farming sustainable seaweed. These nature-based solutions will be applied with human rights-based approaches to help create climate-resilient and equitable economies. Cascadia is the Technical
Consultant for seaweed aquaculture including broodstock
genetic diversity and management, seaweed farm
engineering and market development.
