15 years ago, Bernard Friedman became one of the first ocean farmers in Southern California. It was a risky move, but for Bernard there’s never been another choice. Farming shellfish is more than a job. It’s his way of reconnecting with his roots and a way to sustainably feed a growing population. In his years on the water, Bernard has experienced many challenges from the regulatory process to an unpredictable ocean to personal injury.
These challenges are brand new for the women of Salt Point Seaweed. They are in the earliest stages of testing their seaweed farm, facing all the issues Bernard has been dealing with in addition to the most fundamental challenge of all— how grow their product in the ocean. As time goes on, the older generation of ocean farmers is helping the new generation find a way to overcome obstacles and provide sustainable food for their communities.
