Meet Art Seavey

Not featured in the film, but served as an Abalone farmer informant on this project.

Art Seavey is local to California’s Monterey area and the co-owner, with Trevor Fay, of Monterey Abalone Company. Art and Trevor’s company presents as an eco-farm which starts with “seed” abalone sourced from a local hatchery collaborator. The seed shells are generally around an inch in length and weigh a mere fraction of an ounce. This process is involved, and facilitated by hydrogen peroxide in tanks at the lab. Once shells are mature enough for implanting under the Commercial Wharf in Monterey Bay where Monterey Abalone Company operations take place, Art and his team step in. Art and Trevor’s goals with this farm are to make red abalone accessible to the public in times of natural resource depressions and restrictions while also maintaining ethical and sustainable cultivation practices. Their abalone cages, which float under the wharf, house dozens of small maturing abalone which take about four years to grow to market size. These cages are fed with locally sourced kelp. This kelp is fresh and hand-harvested, making the Monterey Abalone Companies operations unique. The kelp is harvested with a special fishing collection permit. Other local kelp harvesters coordinate with this company through the Monterey Kelp Cooperative to ensure sustainable and ethical use of kelp is taking place in these operation standards. Though this is not entirely a natural environment, Art and Trevor have created a unique and sustainable alternative to traditional collection practices that helps to support cultural traditions in these troubling times.  

Monterey Abalone Company website: https://www.montereyabalone.com/our-story