Overview of Klahoose Aquaculture

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - In 2007, Chief Ken Brown purchased 50% of a 34 hectare sub-tidal geoduck farm off Squirrel Cove, on Cortes Island. In the years that followed, the Klahoose First Nation bought their partner out. They were 100% owners when Bruno Pereira became General Manager of Qathen Xwegus Management Corporation (QXMC).

The next phase of Klahoose Aquaculture growth grew out of a series of discussions that Pereira had with Operations Manager Paul Muskee, more than two years ago.

“We were assessing our tenures and how we could improve the aquaculture operations within QXMC. We had geoducks, but we wanted more. We wanted to diversify. So, we basically decided to walk the beaches and go see what we have. Is there inventory there? Is there anything we can use, we can start,” explained Pereira.

This led to Klahoose harvesting clams and oysters, which they export to Vancouver and to Asia.

More recently, QXMC has started a pilot project for scallops and they sent the first little samples off last week.

Pereira referred to a DFO program called the Pacific Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (PICFI) which was set up to increase First Nations' access to the commercial fisheries in British Columbia.

“We had PICFI representatives coming to Cortes and looking at what we're doing. PICFI helps us a lot in terms of grants and support for our projects. They've been huge supporters of Klahoose for the last six years at least,” he said.

The geoduck harvest started maybe a month ago and was proceeding well before the Chinese market shut down.

“Stopping is not the end of the world but if you stop harvesting, then you need to start all over again, which is sending three weeks of samples to the government to make sure that there's no poisoning, no presence of any types of unwanted viruses, bacterias or any other element,” said Pereira.

He added that there is a modest market for geoducks in North America.

A little more than a year ago, QXMC ventured into the seaweed market through a partnership with Cascadia.

“It grows like weed,” said Periera. “It's something you hear as easier, very resilient and doesn't need a lot of maintenance.”

QXMC hopes to consolidate its venture into the seaweed market and develop an even closer relationship with Cascadia.

“Seaweed is something we should be involved in and leading,” he explained. “Between geoducks, seaweed, scallops, oysters, and clams, I feel that we're covering a lot of ground. Most importantly, we were diversifying enough to mitigate risks. If something goes wrong with one species,” he explained.

“it's a lot of work, a lot of learning. It's not something that brings results right away in terms of capacity, profits or sales.”

He described Klahoose Aquaculture as a modest operation, but “one that I don't want to let go.”

“Even if it is something that doesn't bring massive revenues, massive profits, I would be okay with this because for me it's important to be part of this,” he explained. “We should be involved, as humans, trying to protect and control what's happening in the oceans and in the waters and help as much as we can.”