Renewed initiative, in partnership with Coastal Nations Fisheries and Vancouver Island University, and Island Coastal Economic Trust, focuses on indigenous seafood harvesters across Vancouver Island and coastal British Columbia.
The T Buck Suzuki Foundation is leading the renewed Seafood Business Accelerator. This initiative will offer indigenous seafood harvesters and processors with industry specific coaching, training, and business development.
The first year of the hybrid program will be available to 20 BC seafood entrepreneurs from First Nations communities across British Columbia, including between six and ten participants selected from the Trust’s service region. The program will be offered over two four-month SBA offerings, in fall 2024 and fall 2025.
The project is currently accepting applications for enrolment in their fall program. Read our project announcement for more information.
The project is supported through the Island Coastal Economic Trust’s Capital and Innovation Program, with its focus on Training and Advanced Education.
After the completion of its start-up project, in 2023, the Seafood Business Accelerator has renewed its focus towards seafood entrepreneurs in First Nation communities across the BC Coast.
Economic Prosperity – By assisting and guiding seafood entrepreneurs through the start-up phase, the Seafood Business Accelerator will help establish new businesses across coastal communities and spur significant business growth.
Social Empowerment – The program is designed for seafood entrepreneurs looking to better manage their businesses, distinguish their catch, add value to their harvest, and bypass lengthy supply chains. Its outcomes aim to create more local employment and reduce outsourcing processing and distribution.
Climate Resiliency – The Seafood Business Accelerator focuses on sustainability and diversification. By providing key industry training, it aims to encourage entrepreneurs to create more value from less. This will not only support climate resiliency, but also strengthen local food security.
Cultural Vitality – The renewed program includes a focus on seafood entrepreneurs from First Nation communities. This focus will empower First Nation members to build careers and work within their traditional territories. They hope this inspires opportunities for traditional harvesting methods to be used and knowledge sharing.
Jeff Bartlett
Communications and Impact Manager
Island Coastal Economic Trust
jeff@islandcoastaltrust.ca
250-871-7797
Debra Hellbach
SBA Project Manager
jeff@islandcoastaltrust.ca
250-858-7658
Island Coastal Economic Trust approved funding for this project in 2024 through the Capital and Innovation program.
We work in reciprocal relationships with coastal communities across the ancestral territories of the Kwak̓wala, Nuučaan̓uɫ, Éy7á7juuthem, Ligwilda'xw, Pəntl'áč, She shashishalhem, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Hul’q’umi’num’, diitiidʔaatx̣, SENĆOŦEN, Lekwungen, and T’Sou-ke speaking peoples.
