Sea Urchin Harvesting Event

Learn how to harvest wild sea urchins with Chef Robin Kort. A full day culinary adventure on Galiano Island(BC), the trip starts with a beautiful coastal hike in to the fishing site. Once we arrive, students sign up to be a “shucker” or a “diver” and the group will work as a foraging team to catch and prepare fresh, delicious uni roe. The golden coloured roe is what chef likes to call the ‘Parmesan of the sea’. The tide on this day is very low so you may be able to pick up some urchin from only a few feet under the water if we’re lucky. We’ll catch, shuck and eat some uni raw and then each participant can bring some roe home to cook with.

What’s included:

• Expert guided uni class
• Diving instruction for any participants who want to get in the water and hand harvest
• Shucking and preserving instructions (for those who want to eat but not swim:)
• Learn how to located your own harvest locations
• Fresh uni to eat

What’s not included:

• Tidal water fishing license – Guests who want to harvest must purchase their own day $6 or annual $24 license on the department of fisheries site prior to the class.
• Swimming/snorkeling gear (bring a snorkel/mask if you are planning on hand harvesting)
• Lunch/Drinks (BYO)
• BC Ferry cost – Please reserve your spot ASAP as it can be fully booked in the summer

Itinerary

• Saturday Event
  9:30am Meet on Galiano Island – Hike to the fishing location
  10:30 Arrive at the site
  10:30am to noon Hand harvest urchin
  noon-12:30 Shucking demo
  12:30- 2pm Shucking + packing catch (BYO lunch break)
  2-2:45pm Walk back to car park.

When you book your ticket, you’ll pick a ‘shucker’ or ‘diver’ ticket type so that we know roughly who wants to swim and who only wants to shuck and eat.  The tickets are the same price so if you are unsure if you want to get in the water you can bring swimming/snorkeling gear and email us to tell us you are ‘undecided’.

Please note that you have to be comfortable with hiking on a steep, wide gravel logging road to access the site and carrying a day pack with supplies.