June 10, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(HALIFAX) – Canada’s Ocean Supercluster today announced five new ocean innovation projects worth over $18 million during the H20 Conference in Halifax, including the $1.1 million Uncreweded Surface Vehicle (USV) Enhanced Offshore Fishing Project led by ABCO.
This project is led by Lunenberg, NS-based ABCO, in partnership with Clearwater Seafoods, also in Lunenberg. With a total project value of $1.1 million, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is investing $459,200, with the balance of funding coming from project partners.
The project aims to modernize and improve collection of crucial benthic habitat data to support the sustainability of Canada’s commercial bottom fishing industry using cutting-edge USVs. Thes USVs, equipped with new R2Sonic sensor technology, will be deployed and retrieved during active trawling and dredging operations, improving feasibility and cost effectiveness of data collection. Accessibility of hydrographic surveys and ecosystem data benefits both the fishing industry and the broader ocean ecosystem, improving our understanding of habitats and fishery population dynamics while allowing the industry to further reduce its bottom footprint.
The project will drive sustainable economic growth in one of Canada’s largest ocean sectors by promoting more efficient and environmentally conscious fishing practices. In addition to supporting commercialization, it will help expand Canada’s technical workforce by training USV pilots, including retired captains, and employing recent graduates for data analysis roles.
By optimizing dredging operations and fostering job creation across rural Nova Scotia, this project supports not only its immediate partners, but the wider commercial fisheries sector, helping to build a more sustainable and prosperous future for Canada’s ocean economy.
Through Ambition 2035 and together with Canada’s ocean community, we are bold in our ambition to grow Canada’s ocean economy 5X to $220 billion by 2035. Continued investment in the accelerated development and commercialization of globally relevant, made in Canada ocean solutions, including the projects announced today, will help us realize this ambition. Read more about recommendations to help achieve this transformational growth opportunity outlined in Charting the Course to 5X Growth in Canada’s Ocean Economy and the projected benefits to Canada here.
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Media Contacts
Nancy Andrews
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca
About Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster accelerates the development and commercialization of made-in-Canada ocean solutions in energy transition, food security, future of transport, and climate change while also growing more companies, creating more jobs, and attracting ocean talent. As Canada’s national ocean cluster, the OSC is a convenor of members, partners, and networks and a catalyst for transformative growth that helps build the robust ecosystem needed to help realize Ambition 2035 – a 5X growth potential in ocean in Canada by 2035. To date, the OSC has approved more than 140 projects valued at more than $500 million, which will deliver more than 300 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world.
Quotes
“This project represents the kind of innovation and collaboration that defines the future of Canada’s ocean economy. By integrating uncrewed surface vessel technology into commercial fishing operations, we’re not only advancing sustainability and efficiency; we’re also creating new economic opportunities and building technical capacity across coastal communities. It’s a strong example of how industry and emerging technologies can come together to drive real impact.” – Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster