Grand Manan Dulse, a wild sea vegetable resembling lettuce is hand-harvested off the coast of Grand Manan Island. The cliffs, cold water and minimal sunlight make for optimal growing conditions for the salty treat. Atlantic Mariculture, a Grand Manan company has been making certified organic sea treats for over 20 years.

The company harvests dulse and ships it to Europe, Australia and the United States and it is big business on Grand Manan.

In a good year, there’s about a million pounds of wet weight dulse that would be collected on Grand Manan. The island is ideal for harvesting dulse because of its rockiness and optimal shade. With the cliffs, the shade that is provided allows it to not be be sun burnt or sun damaged in any way and it seems to be the best possible environment for getting this really top quality good eating dulse.

The finest quality dulse is the dulse that comes from Dark Harbour, the whole western side of the island.

Once picked, it is then spread on nets where it is sun-dried. 

Grand Manan Dulse contains high amounts of iodine which helps to avoid any radiation uptake. The milled dulse products are big sellers on the west coast and much of it is sold to California.

Many generations of Grand Mananers have harvested dulse. It’s important to the economy of the island. When visiting Grand Manan, be sure to try it. 

Note from Atlantic Mariculture: “We are a wholesale company only and as such, are unable to handle direct sales to individuals. If you would like to see our products on your local retailer’s shelves, simply give them our contact information and we would be happy to set them up with a distributor in their area”.

Source: CBC News

This post has already been read 3212 times!