For over two decades, Suquamish tribal member Joshua George has dived into the emerald waters of the Salish Sea looking for an unusually phallic clam that is coveted thousands of kilometres away.
George is a geoduck diver. Pronounced โgooey-duck,โ the worldโs largest burrowing clam has been harvested by Georgeโs indigenous ancestors in tidelands in the United Statesโ Pacific northwest since before Europeans arrived.
It has lately become a delicacy in China, with Washington state sending 90 per cent of its geoducks there, creating a niche yet lucrative American seafood export market.
โItโs the first time in 24 years where I donโt know when or if weโll be going back to work or if I have to find another job or what weโre going to do,โ George said.
US President Donald Trumpโs tariff-driven economic feud with China, which dates back to his first term in office, swiftly resumed in February within weeks of him taking back the White House.