PurMer: the fascinating world of mariculture
Sandra Blais and André Gauthier, owners of the Purmer farm on Grosse Boule Island in Sept-Îles, are people whose resilience is genuinely outsized. Their mussel farming business, created in 1994 by local commercial fisherman Serge Gagnon and acquired by them in 2007, had a rough start.
Passionate about the sea, a long-time restaurateur, Sandra Blais (photo) throws herself wholeheartedly into mariculture and begins cultivating mussels. Over the years, she installs yurts and develops the tourist potential of a one-of-a-kind farm: a youth camp, a holiday resort, sea excursions and a whole range of outdoor activities!
But an unfortunate event in the fall of 2013 forced them to throw the mussels out rather than serve them. It was supposed to be the culmination of five years of hard work, as the entrepreneurs were planning to begin marketing the mussels they had raised since 2008 in Sept-Îles Bay. Instead, 5,000 litres of fuel oil leaked from the industrial facilities of mining company Cliffs Natural Resources into Sept-Îles Bay, leaving a risk of contamination.
“We're certainly still bitter about having worked so hard and not having reaped the rewards,” Sandra Blais said at the time. “The first few months were difficult, but it taught us that in life, you're here today, and you don't know what tomorrow will bring,” she added optimistically. So in July 2014, the couple put 50,000 pounds of mussels back in the water, hoping to harvest them in the fall of 2017.
Little did they know that in 2018 they would have to do it all again, as their facilities were invaded by algae. But it would take more than that to discourage them. Diversifying their crops would be their lifeline. Having already introduced scallops, they would now add seaweed farming for consumption. Oysters have now been added to their crops.
Over the past few years, production has picked up speed, except for scallops, which were not produced in 2023 because the bay water was too warm. Though they knew nothing about mariculture at first, they quickly learned through online courses and through time André, a carpenter by trade, spent on the Basse-Côte-Nord with fishermen who taught him the basics of mariculture.
Grosse Boule, a paradise
Since 2018, in addition to the fascinating world of mariculture, the enchanting setting of Grosse Boule Island, in the heart of the Sept Îles archipelago, has been revealing all its secrets. Besides tasting the products, visitors learn about seaweed cultivation and the farming of mussels and scallops. Those who visit on excursions there will never look at seafood the same way again.
Access to the site is by inflatable boat. The journey from the Sept-Îles marina takes approximately 15 minutes depending on weather conditions.
Purmer Educational Camp welcomes children aged 8 to 13 for a 4-night stay on Grosse Boule Island. The children get to discover the secrets of mariculture and the natural beauty of the Sept Îles archipelago, and experience the excitement of spending the night in one of the modern, bucolic yurts.
On-site biologists interpret and explain the mussel and seaweed farming process during a Zodiac tour around the farm facilities. Visitors are then invited to a scallop tasting. Following this unforgettable culinary experience, visitors are given time to explore the site on their own and take photos. The farm also offers yurt accommodations for 4 to 8 people.
André Gauthier and Sandra are now proud marine farmers. They even turned down a generous offer for their island, worth several times more than the price they paid, because they want to leave this little paradise as an inheritance for their descendants. Their daughter, Meggie, is already involved in the family business, spending her summers there to work with her parents.
Purmer Marine Farm
ferme-purmer.com
Ile La Grosse Boule
Sept-Îles (QC) G4R 2P8
(418) 960-4915