Spring is an exciting time of year in Newfoundland and Labrador – it’s when nature’s beauty is really on display, and icebergs, whales, and seabirds start to visit our coastlines, attracting locals and tourists alike. For years, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have learned to work with the environment to harvest natural resources. While our sustainably wild-harvested seaweed was not a traditional source of sustenance in our province in the way that we use it today – in seaweed-extract focused skincare products – it’s been used for years as a soil amendment in gardens, and it’s still subject to the conditions of the environment it grows in.

Because the ocean here is cold, clean, and often harsh, the seaweed that grows along our coastline develops differently. It exists in constant exposure to shifting tides, to wind, to ice. Over time, it builds up natural bioactive compounds that help it withstand these conditions. Those compounds are what make our extracts so unique. 

Harvesting in Changing Conditions

Harvesting in these conditions isn’t something fixed or predictable. We monitor conditions day-to-day, and our team assesses ocean conditions each day, just like our local fisherpeople do to this day. Because of the amount of sea ice off of our coastline this year, some of our local fishers have delayed setting their traps, despite the season being open. 

Some days, access might open unexpectedly. Other days, everything remains out of reach. 

It becomes less about control, and more about paying attention and working with what’s there, rather than against it – an approach that we bring not only to harvesting, but to extraction and formulation.

Learning from the Environment

Spending time on the shoreline, surrounded by the power of nature, changes how we approach things. We’ve learned patience and consistency can yield amazing results. 

Harvesting isn’t a fixed process, it changes day to day depending on conditions.
We’re constantly monitoring the shoreline to understand when it’s safe to go out and what areas are accessible. Ice can hold seaweed in place for a period of time, and then shift suddenly. When that happens, it can shear the seaweed off or move it out of the areas we would normally access.

That means our approach has to adjust. In some cases, our divers need to go further out to reach areas where the seaweed is still intact and can be harvested properly. Our approach is guided by planning, but we're also responding to the environment in real-time.

A Different Kind of Understanding

Working in these conditions means you don’t rely on assumptions. You have to return to the shoreline regularly, observe what’s changed, and adjust. Conditions can shift quickly, especially during seasonal transitions.

That ongoing observation is what allows us to harvest safely and responsibly. It’s something we continue to watch closely, day by day, to make sure we’re working with the environment in a way that’s both safe and sustainable.

Everything we make starts here.