Stage 2 of 4
Cultivation & Wild Harvest
Aquaculture on longlines and rafts at licensed coastal sites, plus wild harvest and Indigenous rights-based harvest under DFO licence.
BC sector insight
Cultivation methods vary by region. Longline systems in sheltered inlets dominate in BC. Atlantic Canada combines wild harvest of rockweed, dulse, and Irish moss with emerging cultivated kelp operations.
Key operators and stakeholders
Seaweed farmers
Operate licensed aquaculture tenures, manage longline and raft systems, and coordinate hatchery seeding.
Commercial wild harvesters
Hold DFO commercial harvest licences to collect specific seaweed species from designated wild stock areas.
Indigenous harvesters
Harvest seaweed under constitutionally protected rights, often guided by community-held harvesting protocols.
DFO licensing staff
Administer aquaculture licence applications, conduct environmental review, and manage tenure and wild harvest licence allocation.
Community perspective
Is cultivation a strength or a challenge in BC? What are you seeing on the ground?
Seaweed Economy surfaces collective knowledge from across the sector. Your perspective helps build a clearer picture.