Seaweed forager supplies local chefs, health food stores — and distillery

Among the forests of kelp in the waters near Sooke, B.C., you’ll find the mermaid of the Pacific carefully harvesting lengths of seaweed to tow to shore.

She may not actually be a mermaid, but some think so, given the amount of time Amanda Swinimer spends in the water.

Recipe

Seaweed’s the secret ingredient in this meat-free pâté

Swinimer runs the business Dakini Tidal Wilds and for 17 years she’s harvested seaweed by hand to supply to health food