Harnessing the Ocean’s Wealth: How Brenton Mason Turns the Sea into Sustainable Livelihoods

On the northwestern coast of Dominica sits the quiet fishing village of Toucari, where the turquoise waters offer more than scenic beauty — they offer opportunity. For Brenton Mason, the ocean is not just a place of leisure, but a source of livelihood, pride, and long-term security for his community.

Brenton is a sea moss farmer, part of a growing group of Dominican entrepreneurs who are finding new ways to earn from the sea while respecting and protecting it.

“I was introduced to sea moss farming by my cousin,” Brenton recalls. “It had to do with the seawater, and that’s where I love to be. I enjoyed doing it, so I just took it as a passion and made it something.”

Sea moss farming, he explains, is a simple process that requires care and patience. Farmers tie small pieces of sea moss to ropes placed along the ocean floor and tend to them until they are ready for harvest. “It’s like growing a baby,” he says with a smile. 

For Brenton, the possibilities go far beyond what people usually see. “It’s inspiring. There’s more to it than just juice,” he says. “You can make so many different products.” Once harvested, the sea moss is cleaned, naturally bleached, and dried, before being turned into juices, gels, powders, and other health products.

Through the Toucari Marine Culture Group, which includes five active members, Brenton and his team are building livelihoods that depend on keeping the ocean healthy. In addition to sea moss farming, they fish, maintain marine nurseries, and explore other ways to earn from the sea without harming it. Their work is supported by Dominica’s Fisheries Division, which helped identify a suitable site for farming. “They checked the pH of the waters and found a perfect location,” Brenton explains. “It’s also a site tourists can enjoy.”

This approach allows the community to earn steady income, protect marine life, and strengthen the local economy — all at the same time.

Brenton is especially passionate about bringing young people into marine culture. “The youths are the future of tomorrow,” he says. “I could die anytime, and they’re the ones who’ll have to continue.”

By encouraging youth involvement, Brenton is helping to pass on skills, build confidence, and create opportunities that keep young people connected to their communities and the sea. His work supports families, improves access to nutritious food, and shows that it’s possible to make a living while caring for the environment.

For organizations like the International Organization for Migration (IOM), initiatives like Brenton’s reflect how strong communities are built — through local knowledge, shared responsibility, and sustainable livelihoods that help people remain rooted, resilient, and self-reliant.

For Brenton, sea moss farming is more than business — it’s a way of life. His days follow the rhythm of the tides, and his vision stretches beyond himself, toward a future where Dominicans thrive by using the ocean wisely and protecting it for generations to come.

“Anybody can do sea moss farming,” he says. “You just have to love the sea.”