MANATEE HOLDINGS
Our Story
Three Generations of Ocean Business Experience
GENERATION 1 · 1988–2007
The Beginning
Eric Gant founded Manatee Holdings in 1988 with a vision: produce premium shellfish using methods that work with nature, not against it.
The Early Years (1988–2007):
- Helped pioneer the wild Geoduck Clam Fishery in BC (1977)
- Founding Director, Underwater Harvesters' Association (UHA) — representing all licensed geoduck fishermen in BC
- Founded FAN Seafoods Ltd. (1993) — pioneered the Geoduck Clam Culture Industry in BC
- Built his own shellfish hatchery in Courtenay, BC (2000)
- Established relationships in China, Thailand, and the United States
"The ocean provides, but only if you respect it. Our job is to cultivate shellfish in ways that maintain healthy waters for the next generation." — Eric Gant
Key Achievements:
- Among the first in British Columbia to develop a fully integrated hatchery and grow-out operation
- Established licensed marine tenure areas across the region
- Developed consistent, hatchery-based production methods
- Built a reputation for quality and supply reliability
GENERATION 2 · 2008–2025
Growth & Diversification
Lourdes Gant joined the business in 2008, bringing modern business practices while preserving the founding principles.
Expansion Era (2008–2025):
- Added geoduck production
- Expanded hatchery capacity and species range
- Entered Asian export markets
- Implemented third-party environmental verification through independent LCA
The Geoduck Decision:
Lourdes recognized geoduck's significant potential in growing Asian markets. Against conventional wisdom that said hatchery geoduck wouldn't scale commercially, the team invested in advanced hatchery techniques and proved it could be done sustainably at volume.
Key Achievements:
- Successfully established commercial-scale geoduck production
- Expanded to multiple licensed tenure sites
- Commissioned first independent lifecycle assessment of geoduck operations (2025)
- Developed supply relationships with premium buyers in China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea
Lessons Learned:
This generation learned that diversification provides resilience. When geoduck markets soften, oyster demand strengthens. When clam harvests face challenges, geoduck provides stability. Multiple species = a more resilient business.
GENERATION 3 · PRESENT
Verification & Innovation
Jacky Han (Director) and Jason Feng (General Manager) represent the third generation of Gant shellfish farmers, combining family knowledge with modern environmental science.
Current Leadership (2025–Present):
- Commissioned first independent LCA (2025)
- Implementing renewable energy transition
- Expanding transparency and verification
- Maintaining quality while reducing environmental impact
"Our grandparents taught us to respect the ocean. Our parents taught us to innovate. We want to prove — with data — that we're doing both."
Why We Commissioned the LCA:
The 2025 lifecycle assessment of our geoduck operations represents a commitment to transparency. We wanted to know: What is our actual environmental footprint? Where can we improve? How do we compare?
Key Focus Areas:
- Environmental verification across all species
- Renewable energy transition by 2027
- Next-generation hatchery technologies
- Transparency in environmental performance
- Knowledge sharing with industry
Three Generations, Shared Values
What Hasn't Changed
- Commitment to water quality
- Premium product focus
- Long-term thinking over short-term profit
- Respect for the marine environment
- Investment in people and community
What Has Changed
- Species diversity (1 species → 3+ species)
- Markets (local → international)
- Technology (manual → data-driven)
- Verification (trust us → prove it with data)
What's Next
We're building this business to last another three generations. Whatever comes next, we're committed to leaving the water cleaner and the operation stronger than we found it.
The Family Today
Eric Gant
Founder — Generation 1 (Advisory)
One of the world's foremost authorities on Geoduck Clam Aquaculture. Founding Director of the Underwater Harvesters' Association (UHA) and Founding President of FAN Seafoods Ltd., which pioneered commercially viable geoduck culture technology in BC.
Lourdes Gant
Co-owner — Generation 2
Key responsibilities: Business strategy, international markets, environmental certification, sustainability. Ranked by Chatelaine Magazine as one of Canada's Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs. Named Most Influential Sustainable Aquaculture Businesswoman 2023, Western Canada (Acquisition International).
Jacky Han
Director — Generation 3
Combines family knowledge with modern environmental science to lead the company's third-generation vision of verified sustainability and operational excellence.
Jason Feng
General Manager — Generation 3
Oversees day-to-day operations across hatchery, field operations, processing, and administration. Committed to transparency in environmental performance.
Beyond family, Manatee Holdings employs a dedicated team of 3 across hatchery, field operations, processing, and administration. Many staff members have been with us for many years.
Key Milestones
1988
Eric Gant establishes Manatee Holdings
Late 1980s–1990s
First commercial oyster and clam harvests
1993
FAN Seafoods Ltd. founded — pioneers Geoduck Clam Culture Industry in BC
2000
Hatchery facility built in Courtenay, BC
2008
Generation 2 (Lourdes Gant) joins business
2008–2015
Geoduck production established
2010s
Asian export markets established
2025
First independent lifecycle assessment completed (geoduck)
2026
Renewable energy transition begins
2026–2027
Oyster and clam LCA assessments planned
Why Three Generations Matters
Long-Term Thinking:
When you're building for your grandchildren to inherit, you don't cut corners. You don't deplete resources. You don't prioritize this quarter over the next generation.
Accumulated Knowledge:
Three generations = 35+ years of learning what works in these specific waters. We know which sites perform best. Which methods minimize mortality. When to harvest for peak quality. That knowledge isn't in textbooks.
Resilience:
We've survived market crashes, disease outbreaks, regulatory changes, and climate shifts. Family businesses think in decades, not quarters.
Trust:
Our reputation took three generations to build. We protect it with every harvest.
Looking Forward
2027 Goals
- Complete LCA for all major species
- Significant renewable energy share across operations
- Reduce geoduck carbon footprint to <250 kg CO2eq/tonne
- Publish comprehensive multi-species environmental baseline
2035 Vision
- Industry-leading environmental performance across all species
- Expanded production and market presence
- Verified contribution to responsible aquaculture industry standards
- Verified net-positive contribution to coastal ecosystem health
"Whether the 4th generation joins the business or not, we're building something that creates value for our community, our employees, and our environment — not just our family. That's what three generations teaches you."