A meeting in Old Massett recently discussed the possibility of a joint Old Massett/Skidegate aquaculture business.The business would be jointly-owned and run between the Gwaalagaa Naay Corporation, the Old Massett Economic Development Corporation and Panasea seafood, a company formed for the purpose of developing shellfish aquaculture in Haida Gwaii, said Panasea CEO Daniel Rabu. The business would be called Haida Seafood, and aims to farm geoducks, sea cucumbers and scallops.The panel of presenters included Old Massett’s economic development officer John Disney, Skidegate Councillor James Cowpar, Old Massett Chief Councillor Ken Rea and Mr. Rabu. The panel answered questions from the small group of attendees on the project for more than two hours.The meeting was the third public information meeting held to discuss the project, the second having been held in Skidegate. Mr. Rabu described that meeting as “dynamic and engaged” and said, “some important issues were brought to our attention and we addressed them. There was a little bit of misinformation out there and it was important for us to set that straight, but I think that through dialogue like this is how we’re going to have a project that’s going to work well for everyone involved.” The meeting was an introduction said Mr. Rabu, and will be the first of many to discuss the project.
