Category: Blog Post
The OSC in 2025: Charting the Course to 2035
By: Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
As the holidays now seem like a distant memory, the New Year is off to a busy start with exciting new project proposals under development, the announcement of new projects underway, and planning in full swing for our bi-annual Ambition 2035 Summit where we look forward to convening Canada’s ocean network behind one of the most important opportunities of our time.
2025 is an important year. It marks just 10 years to our collective 5X growth ambition for Canada’s ocean economy, in the backdrop of a global ocean economy on the rise – expected to outpace the broader economy by 2030. And as Canada charts the course for what is next, the ocean economy is an important driver in the potential for economic growth, new jobs, increased productivity and competitiveness, thriving communities, and accelerating the development of more, made-in-Canada ocean technology to sell to the world. With a membership of 800 from across Canada, as well as associate membership world-wide, the OSC is one of the world’s largest blue clusters. With momentum behind us, now is the time.
To date we have more than $500 million in announced and approved projects with partners and collaborators from different ocean sectors across the country. This month we have announced more than $9 million new in projects at an event at The Pier in Halifax, including the Amphibian UWILD Project and the AI-Powered Vessel Automation Toolkit Project from Marine Thinking, worth a combined $4.7 million, and the Forecast AI Project from MarineLabs worth $4.5 million, with more planned project announcements coming up in Ottawa in February and in Vancouver in March.
You will find us participating at a number of key events in Canada and in global markets that you have identified as priority. In the coming weeks, this includes a session on Arctic ocean innovation at the Aqsarniit Conference in Ottawa, a dedicated ocean track at the Canada-in-Asia conference in Singapore, partnering in the delivery of sessions at Ocean Visions in Vancouver, and participating in Hannover Messe in Germany as a part of Canada’s host country programming.
Our major, bi-annual Ambition 2035 Summit event will focus on action towards our collective goal of growing Canada’s ocean economy to $220 billion by 2035 – with the outcomes of research, reporting, and planning by national steering committees in key areas of growth, insights from global experts, and a look at emerging, new opportunities, as well as a challenge competition soon to be launched for both early and mature companies. Stay tuned!
If you are not yet a member of the OSC – now’s the time to get involved. Reach out to membership@oceansupercluster.ca, or visit Membership – Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. We’re excited to connect with you!
If you have a project idea – we continue to accept project proposals through our continuous intake, core program. Please reach out to get started!
Ocean Talent: A Student Perspective
By Rhian Wallace, AI Ambassador in Residence, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
When I was sorting through the available co-op positions for my university degree, I was met with a sea of finance and programming opportunities; none of which really appealed to me. So, when I saw the posting from Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC), it felt like finding a needle in a haystack. I didn’t know if there would be an option where I could align my interests in environmental stewardship, data analysis, and communication, but there it was. Despite my area of study being statistics and environmental studies, the possibility of working in the blue economy was not even on my radar. In fact, I didn’t even know the term ‘blue economy’ existed until my first day with the OSC.
I hit the ground running when I was pulled into an in-person event on that first day – the OSC’s Ambition 2035 Conference in Victoria. As I sat and listened to the discussions taking place, they began turning to the topic of talent in the ocean sector. People around the room were saying “hey, there’s jobs here, but students don’t think of us.” Unbeknownst to them, they were talking about me. That is, people like me – students that don’t think of the ocean sector when considering career paths. Knowing what I know now about the ocean economy, combined with my personal experience engaging in professional pursuits as a student, I’d have to agree. Canada is the most coastal country in the world, boasting the fourth largest ocean territory and coastline on three of its four borders, and yet there I was thinking that ocean careers were reserved for those in marine studies.
Since that time, I’ve had an incredibly eye-opening experience working at the OSC. I’ve had the opportunity to learn about the work of Canadian ocean innovators and reflect on the systems that are built to support them. My role as the OSC AI Ambassador has given me a unique perspective into the potential of AI for the ocean sector and igniting those interests across multiple domains.
Professionally, I’ve not only seen the high number of possibilities for ocean careers, but also the diversity of skills needed to grow a sustainable ocean economy. In the last month alone, I’ve recommended looking into work in the ocean sector to three of my job seeking friends, all who are considering vastly different career paths (software development, administration, and project management).
Even though I’ve lived almost all my life in coastal cities, I never imagined I had the right skill set to bring to the ocean industry. Now that I’ve experienced it, I’ve seen many of the skillsets that are needed and the plethora of jobs available. My time as a co-op student with OSC has shown me that working in the ocean industry doesn’t have to mean being a marine biologist or a fisher, but it can mean supporting a positive impact on human-nature interactions, and on fostering systems of stewardship and sustainability, using the skills and interests I do have.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

By Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
Since 2021, September 30 has been recognized as National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – a day to honour the children who never returned home, and the survivors, of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. A vital component of truth and reconciliation is acknowledging and commemorating the painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools. It is our responsibility to learn and understand this impact, and what we can do to show support and take action.
The Power of Diversity in Ocean Innovation and Conservation

By: Serena Nguyen (she/her) Founder, CEO & Principal Consultant Evolve Oceans
Earlier this year, I attended several ocean conferences, including the UN Ocean Decade, World Ocean Summit & Expo, H2O, and Oceanfest. While inspiring and insightful for those who could attend, something felt off.
Looking back, I realized that in those events, and the many smaller group discussions with leaders committed to tackling urgent ocean issues, there were very few people who looked like me…few or no other people of colour and limited gender or cultural diversity on stage or in the rooms. We discussed the importance of our ocean and its biodiversity, yet diverse voices, perspectives and experiences were missing from the conversation.
The parallels between human diversity and ocean biodiversity are not just interesting, but crucial. Our ocean, which covers 80% of the planet, is home to countless life forms, many of which are yet to be discovered. The diversity of these life forms is vital for climate regulation, food security, and oxygen production. However, as we face threats like climate change, overfishing, pollution, and habitat destruction, it’s clear that we need to do more. We need to fully integrate the diversity of human perspectives, knowledge, and cultural practices to develop effective solutions to protect our ocean.
For example, generations of Indigenous Peoples and coastal communities have developed a deep, long-standing connection to the ocean. Their traditional knowledge and sustainable practices have preserved marine ecosystems for millennia. The Maori in New Zealand and Indigenous Peoples in the Pacific Northwest have managed their coastal resources sustainably, maintaining healthy fish populations and habitats. A 2021 UN report noted that Indigenous Peoples manage or hold tenure over 25% of the world’s land surface, supporting 80% of global biodiversity. Despite their invaluable contributions, these communities are often marginalized in ocean conservation, science, and policy.
To make meaningful progress in our efforts to grow, innovate, and protect ocean health and the blue economy, we must break out of our echo chambers and include more diverse experiences, skills, and perspectives. This won’t happen so long as I, and others like me, have to push to get into these rooms.
The intersection of human diversity and ocean biodiversity is not just about inclusion but survival. As we face unprecedented environmental challenges, leveraging the full spectrum of human knowledge and experience is crucial for developing sustainable solutions. By valuing and incorporating contributions from all communities and sectors, we can create the solutions needed for more resilient and thriving ecosystems in the ocean and on land.
So, the next time you ask yourself how you can contribute to the ocean, know that your diverse perspective, experiences, and skills can help create the next critical solution needed to protect our ocean and all life on land.
It’s time to bring more diversity into the blue economy. Are you interested in joining me?
Charting a Sustainable Future as We Celebrate Our Partners, Founders and Launch Phase Three of the Ocean Startup Project

By: Dr. Paula Mendonça (she/her) Executive Director, Ocean Startup Project
Our collective vision for Canada’s ocean economy is a bold one; reaching a target of 5x growth by 2035. This will require innovative solutions from companies of every size, including startups who are working to rethink how we can create a more sustainable future. As the Ocean Startup Project launches into Phase Three, we are excited to celebrate our founders’ remarkable achievements and look ahead to the impact emerging companies will have.
It wasn’t long ago that innovation and tech ecosystem leaders from across the Atlantic provinces met to discuss how to best collaborate and support ocean startups. They recognized that generating more ocean technology startups could significantly contribute to Canada’s ocean economy and the broader international blue economy. This understanding combined with a willingness to collaborate led to the Ocean Startup Project’s creation in 2020, launched as an initiative under Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. Our original partners included Genesis in Newfoundland and Labrador, Springboard Atlantic and Invest Nova Scotia (then Innovacorp), Prince Edward Island BioAlliance, New Brunswick Innovation Foundation, Creative Destruction Lab and federal and provincial governments. Our mandate was clear and continues to be: we’re making Canada the best place in the world to start and grow an ocean company.
I was thrilled to be brought into the Project to work with the previous executive director and the team in the early days as new initiatives and programs were rapidly developed and launched (in the midst of a global pandemic nonetheless). Now as the new executive director, I have the pleasure of working even closer with these incredibly knowledgeable individuals who are truly committed to the success of early-stage ocean innovators.
Canada’s ocean startup ecosystem quickly gained impressive momentum and in 2022, we expanded our focus from pan-Atlantic to national to support more ocean innovators across the country. We welcomed new partners, British Columbia-based Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies (COAST) and Quebec-based Technopole Maritime du Quebec (TMQ).
We’ve also seen various ocean-focused organizations and hubs emerge across the country. The increasing support for ocean innovation is a strong signal that ocean startups and the sustainable technologies they are developing have an increasingly important role in mitigating the impact of climate change, improving ocean health, and of course, in building Canada’s ocean economy.
We measure our success by the achievements of our startups and in just four years, we have incredible stories from the 184 startup teams we have supported. We’ve seen companies such as On Deck Fisheries (BC), CORSphere (NL), Scient (NS) and Coastal Carbon (ON) use AI for sustainable ocean growth and receive significant Canada’s Ocean Supercluster funding.
Our startups have raised more than $20 million, created more than 375 jobs, participated in various national and international accelerator programs, and emerged as leaders in the ocean sector, inspiring the next generation of ocean startup innovators.
As we look to the future, our vision remains bold: Canada is and will continue to be the best place to start and grow an ocean startup. With the world’s longest coastlines, we have unparalleled access to our beautiful waters. Our partners from across the country are committed to supporting our work and collaborating to create programs and initiatives that ensure our ocean startup ecosystem is connected, thrives and becomes self-sustaining. This will enable us all, around the world, to reap the benefits of the innovative work being done by ocean startups now and in the future.
Thank you to our partners, early-stage founders, and all involved in this journey. Together, we are making waves in the ocean tech industry. Let’s continue to push boundaries and innovate for a sustainable future.
Mi’kmaq–led ocean science expedition

By: Ken Paul (he/him/nekom) Principal / Owner Pokiok Associates
On June 25, 2024, Miawpukek Horizon have just completed a 13-day, Mi’kmaq-led ocean science expedition on-board the Oqwatnukewey Eleke’wi’ji’jit – Polar Prince. The ship, owned by Miawpukek First Nation and Maritime Horizon, is a former Coast Guard ice breaker that is used and leased out by scientific organizations and NGOs to conduct research, training, and data collection at sea.
This past winter, Miawpukek Horizon had began an ambitious plan to not only coordinate research partners for the cruise, but also secure funding support from Ulnooweg Development Group to create a learning environment for Mi’kmaq youth. Youth members of the Qalipu First Nation, Miawpukek First Nation, and Jr. Canadian Rangers occupied the vessel for each of the 3 legs of the cruise. The first leg started in Stephenville and focused on the South Coast Fjords, which is an area of interest for researchers and coastal communities, and is a long term project to create a marine Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area led by the Miawpukek First Nation.
The second leg was focused on research and data collection in Bay d’Espoir which included underwater cameras, bottom grabs, conductivity/temperature/depth measurements, and water sampling. The youth were involved with the ship-borne data collection and presented with the analysis to give them hands-on experience in ocean research. We were also treated to a community cultural celebration in the community of Miawpukek First Nation along with a feast that included grilled salmon and moose stew.
The last leg was to give experience to the Jr. Canadian Rangers on the expedition to the Funk Islands Marine Protected Area. The assessments on the site were conducted by Memorial University and the cruise concluded in St. John’s on the 25th.
Indigenous-led projects in the ocean science sector are rare. Miawpukek Horizon is taking a bold approach towards enabling Mi’kmaq-led science that will include a two-eyed seeing integrative approach with Indigenous Knowledge Systems. The June expedition, led by the Miawpukek First Nation, is the first ship-borne science expedition on the south coast of Newfoundland organized and delivered with partners by an Indigenous group in Canada. The long term view is to prepare youth for careers in the ocean research sector, focus on research priorities in the marine environment, and continue research and data collection towards creating protected areas for First Nations and coastal communities.
Miawpukek Horizon would like to acknowledge the following partners, without whom this Mi’kmaq-led science expedition could not have occurred:
- Ocean Networks Canada
- Audubon Society
- PEW Foundation
- Royal Canadian Geographic Society
- South Coast Fjords Protected Area Steering Committee.
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans (NL)
- Marine Institute at Memorial University
- Pokiok Associates
Global Seaweed Connectivity: A Colourful Future?

By: Phoebe Lewis, Marine Science Researcher and Designer
How does a researcher in the North East of England meet the CEO of the Pacific Seaweed Industry Association (PSIA)? The answer is at a small pub on the west coast of Scotland, but it wasn’t a love of whiskey that brought us together, instead, a (healthy) obsession with seaweed which only grew during the 2023 Scottish Seaweed Industry Association (SSIA) conference held in Oban, UK.
On reflection, the SSIA conference showcased such an inspiring collection of expertise and diverse perspectives, but also highlighted how uniquely fragmented the seaweed industry really is. The UK and Canada’s seaweed industry’s unique fragmentation is largely down to them both being in their infancy. Whilst this might seem a little disheartening, it’s actually one of the most exciting aspects of the industry – we are still in a position to decide how it grows, which is not something that can be said for many other industries. That is why I first found the work of the PSIA to be so valuable, they are paving the way to connect farmers to product developers to academics to engineers to conservationists to communities and everyone in between – all under the notion of ‘let’s make this work, but actually work’.
Fast forward 5 months and I have been fortunate enough to join Mark Smith, CEO and President, of the PSIA on Vancouver Island for a deep dive into the west coast of Canada’s seaweed industry. The opportunity for this came about after being successful in a knowledge transfer grant awarded by the Doctoral College at Newcastle University – one small step closer to global seaweed connectivity. Since arriving in Canada, Mark and I have embarked on a journey across some of the jaw-dropping scenery of Vancouver Island, meeting with industry insiders and enthusiasts to map out pathways for sustainable growth. This has been an opportunity for me, a designer now turned marine scientist, to build on my own research with international connections. My focus has always been on developing sustainable products that help restore marine ecosystems and coastal communities, most recently, this has involved extracting pigments from seaweed for commercial use in textile dyes.
Whilst each of the colour swatches in the photo above showcase my own journey of material exploration and growth in understanding, there is still a big disconnect between that and implementing a sustainable product into a well-defined supply chain. To move forward with this work and maintain alignment with my evolving climate concerns, I am developing a framework to assess the viability of new pigment sources by asking two key questions: ‘can it be done?’ and ‘should it be done?’. The former is understanding if obtaining the pigments is possible and the latter being an evaluation of the social, environmental and economic impacts at each stage of the supply chain. Embedding these simple questions across the wider context of the conversations being had with people during my time in Canada has sparked creativity and new ideas for the PSIA. One of the ideas that Mark and I are working together on is to connect the voices of the industry and create a platform in which to showcase the stories that make up this very eclectic mix of innovations, opportunities and life-long passions. Keep an eye out later this year!
I’m very grateful to have been at that pub in Oban last year and to now be working alongside the very dedicated PSIA. The conversations so far have been very encouraging to see such a strong desire to collaborate and share knowledge in the journey to a common goal – building what we hope to be a safe and sustainable, globally connected industry that protects biodiversity and empowers communities.
Growing the Blue Economy
By: Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
As the CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, I am continually reminded of a striking reality: Canada, a nation blessed with the world’s longest coastline, currently captures only about half the global average value from our ocean economy. Recognizing this underutilization presents a significant opportunity for improvement, not only economically but also for the betterment of our planet’s well-being.
Recently, during an interview on the Insights Podcast with Don Mills and David Campbell, I had the opportunity to explore a number of topics including the collective ocean ambition for Canada we launched last year, Ambition 2035. This national platform is designed to bring Canada’s ocean network together around the potential to grow Canada’s sustainable ocean economy 5X by the year 2035.
For the complete podcast, listen here: Canada’s Ocean Supercluster – Growing the Blue Economy with Kendra MacDonald, CEO of OSC
The ocean opportunity in Africa
By: Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
Last week I was in market for the Ocean Innovation Africa conference. Following several conversations with different groups and leaders in ocean in Africa, I was looking forward to joining them in person for this conference now in its fifth year. During COVID, I had the opportunity to virtually present at this conference, but the opportunity to be in person was critical to advancing some of the connections and conversations already underway.
Taking advantage of a variety of experiences throughout the week from presentations to workshops, to matchmaking to networking at a historical property and finally a study tour that included a kelp farm, seaweed lunch, wastewater management and rehabilitating turtles, it was exciting to explore ocean solutions being developed and deployed and also to have conversations around where Canada has complimentary solutions on offer. There were hundreds of participants from all over Africa and around the world.
There are many takeaways from my time at Ocean Innovation Africa, as well as opportunities for us to learn from each other and about each other. Here are a few:
- Community: While South Africa is very far from Iqaluit, I heard many themes at this conference that were very similar to those that I heard at our roundtable in the North last month – the importance of community, sustainable practices, food security and thinking for the long term. There was also a lot of discussion about the value of Indigenous knowledge, how to make sure it is captured and how to right size projects for communities. Finally, a focus on the importance of consultation, taking the time to understand communities before proposing solutions. While I am a big believer in the power of technology, there are many low-tech solutions that can create positive impact for a community and scale to others.
- Talent: Africa has the world’s youngest and fastest growing population, expected to nearly double by 2050. I was impressed by the energy and passion at the conference from startups to NGOs to investors looking to both grow the ocean economy for Africa creating economic prosperity and build sustainable solutions for a healthier ocean and a healthier planet. Those that had the opportunity to present their solutions had tailored them to the local environment and community. At the same time, South Africa’s unemployment rate is over 30%, a significant challenge to address as the population continues to increase.
- Biodiversity: Throughout the week, we were exposed to the tremendous biodiversity within South Africa. From seaweed to kelp forests to sharks, penguins, seals, and turtles, we were reminded of the tremendous adverse impact we are having on our planet as many of these species are under threat – this reinforced the important link between a healthy ocean and economic prosperity. South Africa is increasing its focus on Antarctica and the Southern Ocean and the impacts of climate change as we continue to increase our focus on the North Atlantic and Arctic.
- Collaboration: Throughout the conference, there were many networking opportunities. I was impressed by the number of conversations intended to provide support, mentoring and new contacts and avenues to explore. There is much more opportunity for collaboration with Canada and I am thankful for the Canadian Trade Commissioner’s support in identifying meetings and opportunities for connections.
As I sat at a restaurant on Thursday in the dark as Cape Town experiences significant and repetitive energy shortages, I was reminded that while Africa has many opportunities, it also faces many challenges including corruption, poverty, health and education outcomes which brings me back to my first point, this is all about building the right solutions that fit the community and as we bring our solutions from all over the world to Africa to try to help, we need to remember this.
One thing is certain, there is much more to come from the ocean ecosystem in Africa, they are just getting started and there is a role for us to play as collaborators and global partners.
Actions and Reactions: the future of the sustainable ocean economy in the Arctic
By: Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
Over the last couple of weeks, I had the opportunity to spend time in the Arctic exploring both the opportunities and challenges. Last week, with the much-appreciated support of our local partners, including our host sponsor Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, we held our first Ocean Innovation for a Sustainable Arctic workshop in Iqaluit, Nunavut. This week I attended the Arctic Frontiers conference in Tromso, Norway. The theme of the conference was Actions and Reactions, our responsibility to be proactive in shaping the future of the Arctic despite the challenges we are facing.
These provided me with an important opportunity to connect with communities in the North – to listen and understand more about opportunities and priorities in ocean. We heard from Government, communities, NGOs, researchers and industry and focused discussions both on the significant opportunities that exist across the Arctic but also the significant challenges.
While there are certainly many differences across Arctic nations, I was also struck by the consistency of several of the messages over the last two weeks including:
- Arctic has unique challenges – there are harsh weather conditions, communities are small, remote, and widely spread, there is a very high cost of operations and development, and there are infrastructure and data gaps. At the same time, Northern communities have a long history and experience facing these challenges and much can be learned from their experiences. Challenges bring opportunities, therefore innovative approaches and solutions are needed. The Arctic needs long-term thinking and long-term funding commitments and partnerships.
- Climate – the Arctic is warming at least 4X as quickly as the rest of the planet. One speaker referred to the Arctic as the canary in the coal mine, giving us a glimpse into the impacts of climate to come to the rest of the world. There was much focus on changing sea ice, biodiversity loss, vulnerable ecosystems, and significant impacts on traditional ways of life. Any solutions must be sustainable. How do we move quickly given the urgency of the climate challenges but also with respect?
- Solutions or programs must be co-designed and co-led with communities – this was repeated throughout the two weeks. Every community is different, and solutions must meet them where they are at. However, we must balance engaging communities and overburdening them. Communication with communities must be culturally relevant. Priorities of the communities can be season dependent and organizations that wish to work with them must have a good understanding of these priorities. Traditional knowledge within communities must be respected and can bring significant value to any partnership. There must be ongoing dialogue with those who call Arctic home, Indigenous communities are partners and rightsholders, not just stakeholder consultations that tick a box. Looking at the opportunity in inshore fisheries for example – this is important both for food security and market opportunities and solutions must be co-led by communities. Solutions need to consider the broader challenges facing communities including food security, day care, housing, health care and education. As more than one Indigenous speaker shared “nothing about us without us.
- Significant gaps in data – it is hard for decision-makers to make the right decisions without access to the data. There is a lack of baseline data, shortage of publicly accessible data exchange platforms, no interoperability of existing datasets, as well as capacity and training on visualizing raw data. This is a significant challenge across the Arctic. Knowledge must be at the centre of decisions. There is a need to leverage technology to collect more data but there was also a reminder that gathering data should not be extractive, companies and researchers need to be mindful of the CARE principles, data should be for the Collective benefit of Indigenous peoples, Indigenous people should have the Authority to control the data, those working with the data have a Responsibility to share how that data is being used and data should be used Ethically with Indigenous People’s rights and concerns a primary concern throughout. There is much opportunity for artificial intelligence to support better decision making but this is more difficult with missing data.
- Increasing access – Melting sea ice is increasing access to shipping lanes and natural resources. There is significant focus on maintaining peace across the North but also risk with Russia as a key Arctic stakeholder. Regulation plays on important role in ensuring appropriate activity in the North and Arctic governance continues to evolve.
- There is a meaningful value in enhancing collaborative innovation by bringing people together where ideas happen. Additionally, it creates opportunities to offer novel technological solutions to support the traditional knowledge.
It is our hope that the discussions that began in Iqaluit will continue to grow and flourish into opportunities to work together in the Arctic in a way that benefits Arctic communities. More than half of Canada’s coastline is in the Arctic, and meaningful relationships with Inuit communities are critical to achieving Ambition 2035 for our ocean economy. As we work towards a 5X growth potential in ocean, it is more important than ever that we first understand the unique opportunities across all three oceans, and find ways to work together to deliver important solutions for communities, as well as generate significant economic opportunity in the process.