BCBusiness
Blending the lines between aquaculture and agriculture, Cascadia Seaweed is redefining farming on the B.C. coast
On a hot, sunny afternoon at James Island Wharf in central Saanich, B.C., Michael Williamson gives us an insight of one of the most peculiar types of agriculture B.C. has to offer. Just beyond his view, workers harvest long lines of kelp slowly and carefully as part of a movement he helped start. “We’re making a difference while making a dollar,” says one of the CEOs of Cascadia Seaweed, summarizing the business’s dual mission.
Founded in 2019, the Sidney-based company now runs five active farm sites. Three on Vancouver Island: James Island in Tsawout First Nation territory, Diplock in Barkley Sound (in partnership with two Nations that prefer not to be named) and Cormorant in Clayoquot Sound within Ahousaht First Nation territory. The other two sites are near Prince Rupert in Metlakatla territory: Naden and Digby. With this season’s harvest underway, Cascadia expects to collect between 500 and 600 wet tonnes from its own sites, plus additional supply from partners in Alaska.
“We did 50 tonnes our first year. The past two years we’ve cultivated about 200 wet tonnes each season. This year, we did 600 tonnes. Next year, we aim for between 1,000 and 2,000 tonnes.” For Williamson, these numbers go beyond growth; they show momentum. “That’s a sixfold increase in a couple of years,” he says. Profit seems to be within reach, with the company predicting profits by mid-2026.
For Cascadia, scale is important, but not if it harms sustainability or scientific basis. “Seaweed biostimulants can increase the yield by about 20 percent and cut down the use of synthetic fertilizer,” Williamson explains. This reflects the company’s belief that agricultural clients are ready for solutions from the ocean. He is clear about the business model: “If it wasn’t a profitable business, there would be no expansion of seaweed cultivation. A profitable business is better than a non-profit that seeks support every year.” This isn’t about aquaculture versus agriculture; it involves both. “We’re ocean cultivation that benefits both sectors.”
Cascadia’s farming model closely connects to Indigenous communities. “We create arrangements where we help them build a seaweed farm. Then we lease back the water lot from them,” Williamson says. This approach leads to local hiring, seasonal work, long-term revenue, and greater equity. “I’d like to see our First Nations partners own a larger share of the company in the next five years.” The company currently partners with five coastal Nations. Williamson recalls a conversation that made a strong impression on him: “One of the workers said, ‘This farm is so important for my community. It provides jobs so we can stay here. It’s rehabilitating the ocean and bringing in new wildlife.’”
With 23 team members in Victoria, Sidney, Nanaimo, the Lower Mainland and Prince Rupert, Cascadia’s workforce blends marine science, Indigenous partnerships and startup energy. “We’re creating a model that can be shared worldwide.” From laying out kelp lines in cold northern waters to negotiating lease agreements, their mission requires both intellect and emotion. “There are four or five coastal communities we’re working with right now. It helps them assert sovereignty as well,” says Williamson.
Harvesting on the coast means navigating layers of provincial rules, permits, and environmental checks. “It took us a year to get our first permit,” Williamson says. “You need a shellfish license, a seaweed lease and you have to pass environmental checks. We’ve shown that the system works if you know how to navigate it.” They now operate under B.C.’s aquaculture and lease frameworks and are seeking more certifications in order to update their practices and meet at its best the global standards.
Cascadia is also working to clear up misunderstandings. “We’re not wild harvesters. We grow the seaweed that we use,” he says clarifying an important difference between their control practices and unregulated kelp harvesting. “The seaweed farm is actually well-tensioned; there are no loose lines. In 15 or 20 years of seaweed farming, there’s never been a whale entanglement anywhere.” Getting tangled in seaweed farms is not part of any whale’s agenda, and Cascadia is careful not to give them the chance. They are aware of some of the concerns critics have about seaweed farms harming ocean ecosystems.
As the blue economy gains attention and environmental importance, Cascadia Seaweed is showing that the coast can be both productive and regenerative. In these lines of kelp, planted in Indigenous waters and harvested by local hands, Cascadia sees more than just biomass. “We’re creating jobs. We’re creating carbon sinks. And we’re creating opportunity.” It’s not every day you can say your business is built on algae and optimism.