about

Atlantic Holdfast is a small company working to sustainably hand-harvest high quality sea vegetables from Penobscot Bay.  Our harvesting and tending of the seaweeds is centered amongst the outer islands of the bay, where the strong currents, active surf, and full exposure to the open ocean have allowed these seaweeds to thrive for millenia.

The islands served as seasonal camps and villages for the native Wabanaki communities of the greater region for thousands of years, who came to pursue the abundance of the sea. This pattern of use continued for hundreds of years after European settlers were first attracted to the islands for their proximity to rich fishing grounds in the 17th and 18th centuries, and the year round communities here are dependent on marine harvesting for livelihood and subsistence to this day.

The seaweed harvest is guided by the lunar cycle, occurring at all hours of day and night as determined by the tides, rising and falling as much as 13 feet in 6 hours. We travel in small boats to the kelp beds and exposed ledges to harvest, working quickly during the brief windows of time when access is permitted by the receding tide.

We work carefully within this turbulent environment, selectively cutting each variety with specific techniques developed to ensure the long-term health of this unique ecosystem. Once landed the seaweed is immediately hung to dry, reaching a shelf stable condition within 24-36 hours, at which point it stores indefinitely.

Some of the oldest and most resilient organisms on earth, seaweeds have been noted throughout history for their tremendous nutritional and medicinal benefits, their aid in removing heavy metals from the body, and their use in the treatment and prevention of cancer. There is also evidence indicating their ability to prevent the uptake and absorption of radioactive isotopes released by nuclear facilities during normal operations, and especially in the event of a nuclear disaster.

These “plants” have evolved in one of the most turbulent ecosystems on the planet, and can lend some of their strength and tenacity to our bodies in holding fast during times of stress and transition.