One of five Ocean Supercluster projects announced today

Today, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced five new projects with a total value of nearly $29 million, including Project Sentry. This Ontario-led project is developing a new remote aquaculture monitoring solution using in-cage remote operated and autonomous vehicle technology.

A key in sustainable open ocean aquaculture is the inspection and maintenance of quality net cages to minimize the risk of collapse, fish escapes, and ensure fish and ecosystem health over time. This new monitoring solution will enable the determination of where holes or tears in net cages have occurred using artificial intelligence, determine the position and volume of deceased fish in the cage, record photographs and video clips, as well as log the position and depth of in-cage issues for further assessment, all without operator intervention.

In Project Sentry, Deep Trekker will work with partner Visual Defence Inc. to create the new remote aquaculture monitoring solution. With a total project value of over $6.2 million, the Ocean Supercluster will provide $3 million with the balance coming from project partners.

This vehicle developed in the project will deploy on a periodic basis to perform inspections through various trophic levels. This solution will reduce reliance on physical human presence and the use of video, sensors, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning in these in-cage vehicles will reduce the level of decision making for the human operator.

Project Sentry is expected to create and/or maintain 507 jobs, directly increasing Canada’s digital ocean workforce through the creation of jobs in AI, Machine Learning, cloud-based data processing, mechatronics, and software engineering. Additionally, the creation of a caged aquaculture specific AI engine combined with autonomous underwater vehicle technology will significantly increase the digital capabilities of participating organizations by creating a scalable solution that can be applied to a wide variety of underwater inspection tasks.

Video Announcement 

About OSC
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is a pan-Canadian, industry-led transformative cluster focused on tackling some of the biggest challenges across ocean sectors through a collaborative program designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of globally relevant solutions, while also building a highly-capable, inclusive workforce. The Ocean Supercluster has approved projects with a total value of more than $320 million which will deliver more than 100 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world.

Media Contact:
Nancy Andrews
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca
709.725.7070

Quotes:

“Our government is ensuring our oceans and marine ecosystems remain clean and healthy for Canadians from coast to coast to coast. The Ocean Supercluster projects announced today will help us build a cleaner post-pandemic economy and achieve environmental sustainability on a global scale. Projects such as the one led by Deep Trekker are taking innovation further and making lasting contributions by developing novel solutions.” – The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is excited to announce this new aquaculture monitoring solution that will revitalize the assessment, monitoring, and characterization of in-cage fish, while also building capabilities, creating jobs, and economic opportunities through its commercialization.” – Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster

“We are extremely excited about the increases in system autonomy, intelligence and advanced modelling that this project will bring to the Deep Trekker offering overall. Together with Visual Defense, we will integrate artificial intelligence for to find and document anomalies. The systems will use a cloud-based reporting engine to remove the burden of sifting through hours of information in order to document findings. Furthermore, a resident system ensures that inspections are done frequently and thoroughly, regardless of weather and ocean conditions that can prevent boats from reaching the sites. With the expertise and knowledge of Canadian aquaculture leaders guiding the project, we will ensure that this solution is purpose-built for the future of aquaculture world-wide.” – Sam Macdonald, President of Deep Trekker

 

Today, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced five new projects with a total value of nearly $29 million, including the Precision Fish Harvesting Project. Katchi, a rural Nova Scotian company, will lead the project and is developing a SmartNet using herding and deterring technology and seeks to deploy uncrewed service vessels (USVs) to improve the efficiency of conventional trawl fishing.

The fully integrated solution uses hydrodynamic blocks on the top and bottom of the net to ensure the net remains open, replacing existing trawl doors and reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  The vessel’s depth sounder maps the seabed in advance of the net and communicates with the winches to automatically adjust cable payout. This enables the net to move up and down the water column to the desired depth specified by the fishers.  The system also ensures that the net does not come in contact with the seabed and instead remains close by hugging bottom contours features and avoiding obstacles.

Canadian designed and manufactured USVs, with innovative energy optimization technology, will scout for fish using hydroacoustic equipment that delivers information to vessels to reduce vessel search time.  Lights and bioacoustics will be used to ensure efficient capture of targeted species while simultaneously reducing by-catch.  The system will be tested on the MV Lery Charles, owned and operated by Scotia Harvest Inc.

With a total project value of nearly $3.3 million, the Ocean Supercluster will provide close to $1.6 million towards the project with the balance coming from project partners. Yarmouth-based Katchi has partnered with Scotia Harvest Inc. (Digby, NS), ABCO Industries (Lunenburg, NS), Rimot (Halifax, NS), Clearwater (Lunenburg, NS), DSA Ocean (BC), Rising Tide Bioacoustics (Halifax, NS), SafetyNet (Ireland), and MITACS (Halifax, NS).

This project encourages technology development and manufacturing in Atlantic Canada. Specifically, the adoption of this technology aims at increasing the profitability of the fishing industry which already feeds spin-off industries mainly located in rural communities throughout the region. This project is expected to directly create 19 new jobs over the course of the next two years.

Video Announcement:

About OSC
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is a pan-Canadian, industry-led, transformative cluster focused on tackling some of the biggest challenges across ocean sectors through a collaborative program designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of globally relevant solutions, while also building a highly-capable, inclusive workforce. The Ocean Supercluster has approved projects with a total value of more than $320 million which will deliver more than 100 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world.

Media Contact:
Nancy Andrews
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca
709.725.7070

Quotes:

“Our government is ensuring our oceans and marine ecosystems remain clean and healthy for Canadians from coast to coast to coast. The Ocean Supercluster projects announced today will help us build a cleaner post-pandemic economy and achieve environmental sustainability on a global scale. Projects such as the one led by Katchi are taking innovation further, making lasting contributions and helping develop sustainable fishing solutions.” –  The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“This innovative Precision Fish Harvesting solution will help reduce impacts on aquatic species and serves as an excellent example of how Ocean Supercluster members are collaborating to deliver ocean solutions that address ocean health while also creating new economic opportunities for communities.” – Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster

“This project is proof that we do not need to sacrifice economic growth for environmental sustainability. We are thankful for the opportunity that the OSC has given us and are extremely proud of our team and the partners that we have worked with over the last 2 years. We could not have re-imagined fish harvesting without everyone’s collaboration.” – Marc d’Entremont, Founder and CEO of Katchi

“Watching our local fishing industry feel the pressure of trying to catch a very select amount of certain species, while managing large repair and fuel bills, has highlighted the need to put more tools at their disposal. Our goal is to create a product that is worthy of the talent and experience they already have, to help them continue to deliver the best wild protein source in the world while ensuring its sustainability.” – Angie Greene, CPA CA, CFO of Katchi

“Nova Scotia is blessed with both an abundance of natural resources around its coasts and with innovative people and companies that strive to improve on harvesting them sustainably. Scotia Harvest is proud to be a part of that innovation within the province with our involvement in Katchi.” – Alain d’Entremont, President, Scotia Harvest Inc

“The blue economy is experiencing a rapid shift to uncrewed and autonomous technology. The USV (Uncrewed Surface Vessel) market alone is expected to be over $1bn by 2026. The Precision Fish Harvesting Project will see a Canadian-designed and manufactured USV support the optimization and sustainability of the fishing industry. As an advisor to ABCO, I am excited to see them incorporate decades of commercial vessel manufacturing experience in pursuit of a world class solution that will accelerate the competitiveness of some of Canada’s most important industries.” – Chris Huskilson, ABCO Industries

We are pleased to support this project as part of our ongoing commitment to developing new and innovative technology solutions that improve the sustainability and efficiency of our fishing operations.  We believe these innovations can have broad application and lead to meaningful advancements for the fishing industry. – Tony Jabbour, Vice President Fleet Operations, Clearwater Seafoods

“It has been an exciting to see the evolution of Katchi from an idea as a sketch to where they are today.  Ignite Atlantic looks forward to the future of Katchi and is thankful to be part of their growth and development over the past couple of years.  They are a forward-thinking company that balances solving real environmental and sustainability issues facing industry with viable commercial opportunities as an innovation-driven business in the seafood sector.” – Doug Jones, CEO, IGNITE Atlantic

“The importance of energy monitoring, prediction and optimization is becoming ever more important as crewed and uncrewed marine vessel fleets move to greener forms of propulsion. We are excited to work with such an innovative and talented group of companies to help enable such an important project for the global fishing industry, while at the same time advancing our vision to unlock the full value of batteries aboard marine vessels using software intelligence.” – Andrew Boswell, CEO Rimot Inc.

 

One of five Ocean Supercluster projects announced today

Video Announcement here:

Today, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced five new projects with a total value of nearly $29 million, including the Ocean Solutions for Immune Boosting Project. This Nova Scotia-led project is using Atlantic sea cucumber to develop and launch a clinically proven novel human health product with benefits in warding off infectious diseases.

AKSO has concentrated a secret ingredient from Atlantic sea cucumber and encapsulated into capsules as natural health product. The product is capable of significantly increasing immunity in animals.Through this project, AKSO Marine Biotech Inc. and its partners plan to use these fully characterized bioactive ingredients to develop and launch a clinically proven novel human health product with benefits in warding off infectious diseases.

With a total project value of over $2.3 million, the Ocean Supercluster will provide $520 thousand with the balance coming from project partners. In the Ocean Solutions for Immune Boosting Project, AKSO Marine Biotech inc. will work with partners Atlantic Sea Cucumber Ltd., Fisheries and Oceans Canada, National Research Council (NRC), and PEI Bio Alliance to develop the human health products.

The novel products created in the Ocean Solutions for Immune Boosting Project will have an immunity boosting claim which will help to reduce the severity of infectious diseases from the common cold to potentially minimizing the effects of coronaviruses.

This project will result in five or more direct jobs with indirect opportunities for local construction companies and professional technicians. These opportunities will be open to minorities, women,
indigenous and other underrepresented groups. The product developed in the Ocean Solutions for Immune Boosting Project will also create more sustainable solutions while growing Canada’s ocean economy.

About OSC

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is a pan-Canadian, industry-led transformative cluster focused on tackling some of the biggest challenges across ocean sectors through a collaborative program designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of globally relevant solutions, while also building a highly-capable, inclusive workforce. The Ocean Supercluster has approved projects with a total value of more than $320 million which will deliver more than 100 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world.

Media Contact:
Nancy Andrews
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca
709.725.7070

Quotes:
“Our government is ensuring our oceans and marine ecosystems remain clean and healthy for
Canadians from coast to coast to coast. The Ocean Supercluster projects announced today will help us
build a cleaner post-pandemic economy and achieve environmental sustainability on a global scale.
Projects such as the one led by AKSO Marine Biotech Inc. are taking innovation further, making lasting
contributions and helping provide more sustainable and healthy consumer products for Canadians.” –
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“The Ocean Solutions for Immune Boosting Project is an exciting new Ocean Supercluster project that
will not only provide an innovative solution to help protect human health but also deliver environmental
benefit by decreasing the amount of seafood processing waste that’s left unused.” – Kendra
MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster

“When I first arrived on Canada’s east coast, I was overwhelmed by the abundance of Canada’s marine
resources, in particular, Atlantic sea cucumbers. There are abundant Atlantic sea cucumber in Northern
Atlantic Ocean, but has not developed. Since then, I have determined to explore Atlantic sea cucumber
into a medicinal resource, benefiting the local people and promoting it to the world. This process is long
and challenging, and we are grateful for the partners’ support to help us move ahead.” – Sam Gao, the
President of AKSO Marine Biotech Inc.

“At Perennia, we are committed to supporting Nova Scotia seafood companies develop new products
and reach global markets using a full utilization approach to seafood processing. In that way, AKSO is a
perfect client. Their passion for manufacturing products that provide consumers access to the diversity
of functional compounds from Atlantic Sea Cucumbers, while simultaneously utilizing all parts of the
animal, is condemnable.” – Dr. Jonny Rolin, Perennia Seafood Food Scientist

Project Photos:

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) has launched a second Canada-wide Call for Proposals under its Ocean Leaders Impact Program (OLIP). The program focuses on developing new opportunities and building on the experienced talent pool in Canada’s ocean economy. The Call will address important challenges in the innovation ecosystem by investing in projects that forge new partnerships, build on existing talent resources, and foster creative solutions that support small and medium-sized ocean enterprises (SMEs) as they grow.

“When we look at the trajectory of growth in the global ocean economy, we know Canada has the potential to play a significant role in the development of solutions that support both greater ocean health and productivity,” said Melody Pardoe, Chief Engagement Officer at Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. “In order to do this, we must build an expanded, more diverse ocean network where SMEs are well-supported with greater access to strategic and critical talent needed to play a leadership role in the future of our ocean.”

Pardoe says the new Call is designed to address talent and growth challenges for SMEs in Canada’s ocean sectors, unlocking new opportunities to increase Canada’s global competitiveness in ocean.

The Ocean Leaders Impact Program Call for Proposals is designed for projects with a term ending by March 31, 2023. The OLIP Call is specifically targeting strategic opportunities that will attract experienced ocean talent and invest in current ocean leaders, partnering with projects that will:

• Expand the highly skilled ocean talent pool through domestic recruitment efforts targeted outside the ocean economy;
• Support ocean SMEs ability to secure senior leaders and specialized talents from international markets;
• Focus on the near-term career advancement of employees with senior leadership potential with Canadian Ocean SMEs; and
• Advance leadership opportunities for diverse and underrepresented groups.

The application process is now open, beginning with the Expression Interest (EOI) process. For consideration, organizations must submit a completed EOI by February 21, 2021, at 4 p.m. Atlantic time.

The Ocean Supercluster will host a virtual information session on the Ocean Leaders Impact Program Call for Proposals on January 27, 2022, at 2 p.m. Atlantic time. To register, email OLIP@oceansupercluster.ca.

For complete detail on OLIP, visit https://oceansupercluster.ca/projects/ocean-leaders-impact-program

-30-

About Canada’s Ocean Supercluster

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is a national, industry-led transformative cluster focused on tackling the shared challenges of multiple ocean sectors through a collaborative program designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of globally relevant solutions. This includes leaders in fisheries, aquaculture, offshore resources, bioresources, transportation, marine renewables, defence, and ocean technologies who are committed to leveraging collective strengths and working together to change the way ocean business is done. Canada’s Ocean Supercluster has approved more than 60 projects to date with a total project value of more than $320 million. For more information visit www.oceansupercluster.ca

Media Contact

Nancy Andrews

nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca

709.725.7070

One of two Ocean Supercluster projects announced today

 

Today, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced two new projects led from Newfoundland and Labrador including the $3.1M Offshore Connected Worker Project. The project will implement the Connected Worker (CW) technologies in remote offshore operations, reducing risk and adding value to ocean companies.

The project involves the unique integration of digital and automated technologies that allow vessel and offshore installation operators to effectively optimize offshore personnel by remotely monitoring human activity, conditions and operations. This new capability of remote monitoring of assets and personnel allows for reduction of offshore hours by using data and machine learning to optimize roles, prevent equipment failures, optimize vessel operations, and increase the safety and well-being of the crew. Digital systems will enable operators and contractors to monitor and perform activities from a shore-based Center of Excellence, that were previously completed offshore.

Led by Horizon Maritime and Allswater Marine, with international partner ShipReality Inc. and Canadian partners, VMG Strategic Technology, Rimot, C-CORE, Kognitiv Spark, and Kinduct, the Connected Worker Project team will use their leading expertise and experience to create a holistic end-to-end application of digital technology for an offshore installation or vessel. Once complete, the application will provide offshore companies and their crew with reduced risk, greater efficiency and improved health and well-being in the remote offshore environment.

With a total project value of $3.1 million, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster will provide $1.3 million in funding to the project. Five hundred thousand of the total value will come from the province of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Innovation and Business Investment Corporation with the balance coming from industry partners, marking the 40^th Ocean Supercluster project announced to date.

This Offshore Connected Worker Project will create 20 new direct and indirect jobs in its development. The technology created by the project will also enable the success of increasingly remote project and future projects in Canada and internationally.

 
 Video Announcement (Starts at 13:00)

https://youtu.be/Eu8X5bAW5wc?t=787

About OSC
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is a pan-Canadian, industry-led transformative cluster focused on tackling some of the biggest challenges across ocean sectors through a collaborative program designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of globally relevant solutions, while also building a highly-capable, inclusive workforce. The Ocean Supercluster has approved projects with a total value of more than $320 million which will deliver more than 100 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world.

Media Contact:
Nancy Andrews
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca
709.725.7070

Quotes:

“Innovation comes from bringing together key players to solve real-world challenges. By using digital and automated technologies such as digital twinning, this project will support workers while addressing challenges in the offshore environment.” –  The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“With this project, the Ocean Supercluster shows that innovation happens throughout the economy, including in the digital marine sector. The development of connected-worker technologies will provide our ocean workforce with a safer work environment and will help position Canada as a global leader in the ocean economy.” – The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development

“Digital technology is changing the way we operate in marine settings. By using simulated capabilities, this innovative R&D project will create a safer and improved offshore environment. Supporting tech projects that grow and advance the blue economy is important to our government.” – The Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology

“Our world and our ocean is becoming increasingly digital, where increasing our capabilities in remote operations in our ocean industries will not only help us keep workers safe, it will open up new opportunities for growth and increase our global competitiveness. This is one of many areas where Canada can lead in ocean, and the advancements in remote operations made possible through this project is an important part of that opportunity.” – Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster

“We appreciate the efforts of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and our project team to bring this initiative to fruition. The opportunity to improve the safety and well-being of our remote offshore workforce while increasing the competitiveness of our industry are amongst the most important challenges we face today. We are excited to begin work on delivering solutions that will result in positive change.” – Sean Leet, CEO Horizon Maritime

“We are thrilled to be collaborating with such an amazing group of innovative companies in Atlantic Canada to develop this unique solution that will have many applications both locally and internationally. The Offshore Connected Worker Project will address one of the most prominent issues faced by the marine and offshore industries. Our integrated connected worker technologies provide a better understanding of the health, wellness and efficiency of workers offshore, while enabling the ability to relocate many tasks that have traditionally been completed offshore to an onshore facility.” – Rob Crutcher, President Allswater Marine

 

 

One of two Ocean Supercluster projects announced today

Today, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced two new projects led from Newfoundland and Labrador including the $471 thousand Crisis Intervention & Operability Analysis for Digital Ocean Operations (CRIOP-DO) Project. This project will support the digital transition to remote operations in our ocean environment.

The Crisis Intervention & Operability Analysis for Digital Ocean Operations Project will build upon Norway’s successful Crisis Intervention and Operability Analysis (CRIOP) model to establish a Canadian methodology to demonstrate safety and reliability assurance of critical, complex digital ocean systems, and support regulatory compliance. Risk assessment methodologies frequently use checklists and scenario-based approaches and CRIOP-DO will take this approach for autonomous and remotely operated systems increasingly being used in the offshore worldwide.

Led by Energy Research & Innovation Newfoundland and Labrador (ERI) and the National Research Council of Canada’s Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering Research Centre, with partners Lloyd’s Register, Atlantic Towing, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador and SINTEF (the Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research at the Norwegian Institute of Technology), this team will establish a framework methodology to safely accelerate adoption of digitally-enabled operating models and technologies by Canada’s ocean businesses, and lower barriers to advancement and commercialization of innovative technologies, and support evolving Canadian regulatory reforms.

With a total project value of $471 thousand, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster will provide $94 thousand in funding to the project with the balance coming from industry partners, marking the 39^th Ocean Supercluster project announced to date.

This Crisis Intervention & Operability Analysis for Digital Ocean Operations Project will identify gaps and opportunities for ocean digitalization research and development and innovation and set a clear agenda for education and training to build workforce resources and competencies as we transition to more remotely controlled and automated operations.

CRIOP-DO will support innovation that will deliver economic prosperity through Canada’s leadership in the digital, connected and remotely operated ocean.

 Video Announcement (Starts at 13:00)

https://youtu.be/Eu8X5bAW5wc?t=787

 

About OSC
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is a pan-Canadian, industry-led transformative cluster focused on tackling some of the biggest challenges across ocean sectors through a collaborative program designed to accelerate the development and commercialization of globally relevant solutions, while also building a highly-capable, inclusive workforce. The Ocean Supercluster has approved projects with a total value of more than $320 million which will deliver more than 100 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world.

 

About Energy Research & Innovation Newfoundland and Labrador

Energy Research & Innovation Newfoundland and Labrador (ERI) advances research, development and demonstration (RD&D) and innovation projects in the offshore oil and gas industry, with a focus on health, safety and the environment. ERI is a federally incorporated, not-for-profit organization whose members include Chevron Canada Resources, Equinor Canada, ExxonMobil Canada, Husky Energy, part of the Cenovus group of companies, and Suncor Energy.

 

Media Contact:
Nancy Andrews
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca
709.725.7070

 

Quotes:

“Today’s announcement demonstrates Canada’s commitment to supporting innovation in all sectors of our economy. With the support of the Ocean Supercluster, this project will help advance Canada’s ocean industries and provide benefits to Canadians from coast to coast to coast.” –  The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“The Ocean Supercluster brings together a diverse group of partners to address challenges in the digital marine sector, positioning Canada as a global leader in the ocean economy. Coastal rural communities rely on the ocean to sustain their economies, and this project will help their economies to continue growing. By developing new digital technologies, this project will help boost industry confidence in remote and autonomous ocean technologies and increase their adoption, while building a skilled workforce in this field for years to come.” – The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development

“The ability to adopt and implement remote and autonomous operations across ocean sectors will help drive Canada’s global competitiveness in ocean. This collaborative framework will help facilitate the further digitalization of our ocean economy, lowering barriers and providing opportunities to advance the technologies that will support this transformation and help shape the future of ocean work.”-  Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster

“Digitalization is increasingly becoming an enabler for safe and more sustainable offshore operations around the world. CRIOP-DO will provide a methodology to allow all parties in Canada’s offshore industry to embrace technological advancements in such areas as remote and autonomous operations while maintaining the highest levels of safety and environmental performance.” – Dave Finn, CEO, Energy Research & Innovation Newfoundland and Labrador.

 

 

66 countries ranked based on ocean environment, activity, innovation and policy

The MIT Technology Review released its inaugural Blue Technology Barometer report, ranking 66 countries and territories with large or economically significant ocean coastlines on their progress and commitment toward ocean sustainability.

Delivered in partnership with Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, Morgan Stanley and Infosys, the research, analysis, and index scores each country or territory with an overall ranking, as well as providing scores across four pillars: ocean environment, marine activity, technology innovation, and policy and regulation. For overall performance across all four pillars, Canada has earned a tenth-place ranking amongst the top blue technology leaders.

“Canada has come in tenth overall for its commitment to and advancement in the sustainable blue economy. This ranks them with other global leaders, coming in just below South Korea and slightly ahead of Japan. Canada performed particularly well in the category of ocean environment in carbon reducing activity with advances in the electrification of marine vessels for example,” said Francesca Fanshawe, editorial director, custom content at MIT Technology Review.

Also noteworthy is the seventh-place ranking in policy and regulation. The Ocean Supercluster attributes this, in part, to the Federal Government’s bold innovation policy. “In 2018, Canada put forward-thinking innovation policy into action through the establishment of the Innovation Superclusters program,” said Kendra MacDonald, CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. “Now three years later the Ocean Supercluster and its almost 450 members from across Canada are tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges in ocean, garnering attention globally.”

MacDonald says she’s encouraged by the report because it illustrates key areas of progress in sustainable ocean growth and policy that will contribute to even further advancements and increased global competitiveness for Canada. “Canada can be a leader in the global blue economy and we’re making significant progress, but there’s much to do.” She adds Canada needs to continue to focus on the development of its technology innovation ecosystem which is being driven by the Ocean Supercluster together with organizations across the country.

The report draws attention to key areas for consideration in the global blue economy including a call to action and the need for increased technology in the cryosphere, which includes Canada’s Arctic:

Every economy in the world, and particularly ones with maritime industries and communities dependent on ocean coastal ecosystems, needs to do more to mitigate the effects of their activities on the ocean and life in the cryosphere, or frozen areas of the planet. This requires a mixture of actions and an accelerated use of new technologies.

Given the opportunities and challenges in our ocean is far greater than any one country or territory, the need for cross-border collaboration was highlighted, as well as the need for coordinated efforts between ocean health and resilience and land-based efforts on the path to decarbonization.

The innovative solution to vertical line entanglements, plastic pollution, and ghost fishing caused by abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear that pose threats to ocean species including the Right Whale

Today, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced the $1.4M ROC Fishing System Project. This Nova Scotia-led project will develop and commercialize ropeless or rope-on-command (ROC) fishing solutions to help address global problems including vertical line entanglements, plastic pollution, and ‘ghost fishing’ caused by abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear.

Vertical line entanglements account for 85 per cent of North American Right Whale deaths with severe impacts on other marine animals like sea turtles, seals, porpoises, dolphins and other whale species. Abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear is the biggest plastic polluter in the ocean resulting in seven hundred thousand tons of ocean waste/plastics per year. Contributing to this challenge, lost gear continues to “ghost fish” and is estimated to be directly responsible for 10 per cent decline in global fish stocks, reducing available catch quotas and breaking the traceability of sustainable fishing practice.

Led by Ashored Inc., with NL-based partner eSonar Inc., the ROC Fishing System Project team will work together to take a traditional vertical fishing line connected to lobster and crab traps and coil it on the seafloor in a contained unit with a recovery buoy. In addition to this hardware solution, is a sophisticated data analytics software platform monitoring when the gear was deployed, when it was retrieved, and its location. The project will result in a suite of technologies to provide trap-based crab and lobster fishers the means to pursue their fishery effectively and efficiently while, at the same time, addressing global fishing issues. The ROC Fishing System Project will be instrumental in protecting marine species at risk from buoy rope entanglements, and working towards a safe, transparent, and sustainable fixed-trap fishing industry.

With a total project value of $1.4 million, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster will provide $650 thousand in funding to the project with the balance coming from industry partners, marking the 38th Ocean Supercluster project announced to date.

This ROC Fishing System Project will support small coastal communities reliant on the fisheries through job creation, sales, distribution and supply chain partnerships and an overall improvement to their existing fisheries. It will also propel two Canadian-owned companies, Ashored and eSonar into global market leaders, enhance research, development and manufacturing capabilities while positioning Canada as a leader in ropeless fishing.

Quotes:

“Through this new initiative, the Ocean Supercluster is supporting the development of an innovative system that will transform the fishing industry. Congratulations to these two Canadian companies that will help position Canada as a world leader in sustainable ocean technology and help find solutions to global challenges.” – The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is a national network of almost 450 organizations who are working together to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges in ocean. This innovative Rope-on-Command Fishing System solution will help reduce threats to species at risk including the North American Right Whale and is an example of how Ocean Supercluster members are collaborating to address ocean health while also creating new economic opportunity.” – Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster

“Ashored is excited to be partnering with E-Sonar and Canada’s Ocean Supercluster at the forefront of the global drive towards healthy and sustainable oceans in bringing our Rope-on-Command (ROC) system to market. We know healthy oceans are essential for healthy lives and the advancements in technology developed by Ashored and E-Sonar as part of this collaboration are driving real change in the fixed gear fisheries. The Ashored ROC system not only removes vertical lines used in the fixed gear fisheries; saving the lives of endangered and entangled marine animals, and reducing ocean waste and ghost gear, but also is a means of collecting, analyzing, and reporting on catch data.” – Aaron Stevenson, CEO of Ashored Inc.

“eSonar is excited to collaborate with Ashored and the Ocean Supercluster to support the Development of a Ashored’s Rope-on-Command Fishing System that protects the endangered right whale. Integrating eSonar’s technical capability with Ashored’s Rope-on-Command solution will provide a cost-effective option to eliminate the suspended rope entanglement hazard for endangered Right Whales. This environmentally sustainable solution optimizes lobster and crab yield while making the ocean a safer place for endangered species.” – Gary Dinn, CTO of eSonar Inc