By: Aaron Stevenson, CEO, Ashored Inc.

It is an exciting time to be in ocean technology in Canada and particularly in Blue Tech, which I describe as the intersection of marine sciences, technology, and industry.  It is born out of the growing body of knowledge that looks at the big picture in studying the ways, means, and the broad impacts of our presence and activities upon the oceans. It is developing new technologies and, in some cases, combining that with old technology and materials to harness advances for the benefit of industries, while also minimizing the overall impact for the benefit of ocean ecosystems.

When it comes to the fishing industry, where Ashored is focused, the negative impacts are in the news frequently and carry such striking statistics as: « commercial fishing industry contributes 640,000 tons of the nearly 8 million tons of plastics that enters our oceans each year » and « an estimated 140,000 marine animals die annually as a result of entanglement in fishing gear ». Even without doing a deep dive into microplastics and chemical additive leaching, we can very quickly conclude that this will indeed have a negative impact on ocean life. What is less understood, however, is the business case for the fisheries to solve the problems of Abandoned, Lost, and otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) and other ecological challenges.

In fixed gear fisheries such as lobster and crab, for example, one of the consequences of ALDFG is a scenario known as “Ghost Fishing” where marine life caught in lost traps die and become bait for others in a continuing cycle.  In terms of the economic loss to commercial fisheries, some studies have estimated the loss due to the artificial competition created from these untended fishing traps is equivalent to 4.5% of the average annual harvest.

From an industry perspective, perhaps the most compelling case for Blue Technology comes from end consumers. Today, people want to know where their food comes from, how it was harvested; they want to know that their food is not only healthy and safe, but that it is harvested or produced in a manner that is also healthy and safe for the environment. Taglines on menus describing food or ingredients as “whale-safe”, “sustainably sourced”, and “wild caught” all convey a sense of higher value and environmental responsibility. What is perhaps even more telling are the policy shifts at the government levels around the world over the last decade that are now resulting in regulatory changes and funding in support of these green and blue initiatives. A prime example of this is the recent announcement from Canada’s federal government regarding whale safe technology. Not only will whale safe technology be required in the fixed gear fisheries starting in 2023, but they are also investing $20 million through a whale safe gear fund to support the adoption of this technology ahead of the 2023 fishing seasons.

As a young company and Canada’s only Rope-on-Command gear manufacturer, this is very welcome news. It puts Canada at the forefront of this global shift to a blue economy and creates opportunities right here at home for growth, innovation, and export as other countries look to follow Canada’s lead.

Personally, the one thing that makes the blue economy particularly attractive is that it is still more or less in its infancy, and it is underpinned by the notion that as we know better, we must do better. At Ashored, we started with the idea that we wanted to tackle a problem that was locally felt and globally significant. We are doing that – and making a difference in the process; but for would-be entrepreneurs looking to make their mark, the global shift to a blue economy is creating a world of new opportunities across a wide range of industry sectors and fields of study that will offer many more globally significant challenges for years and decades yet to come.

Aaron Stevenson
CEO, Ashored Inc.

Our ocean is a mighty and powerful thing. It’s a resource that is critical to our livelihoods and our existence. Whether you live in Newfoundland and Labrador like I do, or any coastal community in Canada, you will also know our ocean can be challenging but also one of our biggest opportunities. Every day, there are new possibilities uncovered in the ocean and for me it has been an incredible journey to be at the heart of much of that activity.

I have spent both my academic and professional careers focused on the marine sector and the advancement of research and development in the ocean. I have seen significant transition, growth, and innovation, as well as new ocean industries emerge through the work of people whose connection and commitment to the ocean runs deep. As Vice President, Memorial University (Marine Institute), I have been proud to see the evolution and growth of our industry-driven academic and research programs over the years.  I am proud to have led the establishment of a new School of Ocean Technology (2007) and two new research centres in Applied Ocean Technology and in Fisheries Ecosystem Research (2010).  Likewise, the building of the Marine Base in Holyrood to be the portal to the sea has been a major initiative in support of the oceans sector.  I have seen first-hand the benefits that ocean development is bringing to our province and beyond, and also the important role of the growing national network of academic institutions and ocean focused organizations across the country who also play a key role in the future of Canada’s marine sectors.

While working in an academic capacity, I also have worked closely with those in industry and personally spend a great deal of my own recreational time on the water. The value of bringing together different perspectives to do great things (and different things) in the ocean is something that I encouraged in my work at the Marine Institute, and also what drew me to serve on the Board of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster and on the Executive Council of the Ocean Frontier Institute. The ocean has helped shape our economy and our identity in the past, and I believe it will be even more foundational in our future economic prosperity and our ability to lead the global development of the 72 per cent of our planet that is covered by water.

If we look at the fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador for example, this an industry that has played a vital role in rural and coastal regions in the past and is transforming to meet today’s market demand. Today, the fishery is more than a $1 billion industry to the province that can help us meet the call for sustainable protein world-wide, and with a continued focus in aquaculture, farmed fish can also help bring our province to the forefront of this opportunity. While seemingly traditional ocean activity, fishing and aquaculture is becoming increasingly digital, creating and adopting some of the most advanced technologies to fish smarter as good stewards of the ocean. I consider myself to be quite fortunate to have been at the table for much of this advancement for the discussions, collaboration, and launch of new initiatives and projects that have transformed our fishery and aquaculture sectors over the past 40 years.

I have also witnessed and worked with the development of the oil and gas industry since the 1980s and have seen the transformative economic benefits this has brought to our province and in our country.  The oil and gas sector has greatly increased our understanding of the ocean and has invested heavily in ocean technology and ocean engineering which has benefited all users of the ocean.
Ocean technology cuts across all ocean sectors, and we need to continue to build on existing and new technology to help understand, grow, and benefit from our ocean. Ocean technology advancements like ocean mapping, underwater robotics, and the digitization of vessels help us better understand and operate in the ocean in a responsible way. As Canada’s largest and most comprehensive education and applied research institute for the ocean sector, the Marine Institute plays a unique role in bridging the gap between fundamental research and the commercialization of ocean technology.

In closing, I believe the future of our ocean sector is bright and I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to everyone that I have worked with over the years. You inspire me and I wish you all fair winds and following seas!

Glenn Blackwood
Vice President, Memorial University/Marine Institute
Director, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster

De : Ogaga Johnson, gestionnaire du leadership technologique de Supergrappe des océans du Canada et mentor de l’industrie d’Ocean Allies

Dans tout secteur, la diversité, l’équité et l’inclusion sont essentielles pour nous assurer d’avoir les connaissances et les points de vue d’une main-d’œuvre diversifiée pour soutenir la croissance de l’économie de l’océan. Sans inclusion, la croissance s’en trouve limitée et pour être un chef de file mondial, nous devons tenir compte des opinions d’une diversité de personnes.

L’initiative Ocean Allies Role Model (Modèle de rôles d’Ocean Allies) vise à établir une liste d’une diversité de superstars de l’économie de l’océan. Par cette liste, on vient mettre en vedette une diversité de personnes qui excellent dans le secteur de l’océan tout en créant un sentiment d’appartenance pour d’autres personnes désirant bâtir une carrière dans les secteurs océaniques.

Une image vaut mille mots lorsque nous parlons d’avoir des modèles de rôle diversifiés de l’industrie. Au-delà des mots, des webinaires et des possibilités, le fait de voir et d’apprendre de personnes qui connaissent du succès permet de brosser un tableau de l’avenir potentiel de tous ceux qui désirent participer à l’économie de l’océan. Ainsi, voir des gens qui « nous » ressemblent suscite un grand sentiment de confiance et de validité à quiconque espère faire son entrée dans l’espace océanique. Cela convie également le message qu’il n’est pas nécessaire de suivre une voie prédéterminée ni de posséder des antécédents spécifiques pour se faire entendre et rayonner dans l’économie océanique du Canada.

Le leadership est d’ailleurs un domaine qui nécessite une attention particulière dans le secteur de l’océan. Nous avons en effet besoin d’une main-d’œuvre qui favorise des populations diversifiées et la possibilité de progresser vers des postes de leadership et d’influence. En tant que jeune femme professionnelle provenant d’une communauté noire, je peux vous le confirmer. Nous devons voir plus de gens comme nous occuper des postes de leadership et d’influence pour nous rendre compte que nous sommes véritablement bienvenus et valorisés, que nous avons des possibilités de croître et de faire entendre notre voix. En tant que Modèle de rôle d’Ocean Allies, j’espère pouvoir convier ce type d’affirmation à d’autres jeunes de l’espace de l’océan.

Il est merveilleux de voir la poursuite des activités dans ce domaine. Gens de l’industrie, continuez de braquer les projecteurs et de raconter les histoires de personnes diversifiées qui ont excellé dans le secteur de l’océan. En offrant une telle visibilité, vous contribuez à ce que des superstars diversifiées rayonnent encore plus tout en démontrant aux autres qu’il est aussi possible pour eux de rayonner dans ce secteur. Des employés diversifiés apportent un point de vue unique et une puissante contribution à la main-d’œuvre. Qu’il s’agisse de la race, de la culture, de l’âge ou du sexe, nous avons tous une valeur et des connaissances particulières à offrir au secteur de l’océan.

À mes compatriotes professionnels diversifiés envisageant de participer à l’océan, montez à bord! Vos rêves sont légitimes et vous pouvez les réaliser. Votre expérience diversifiée n’est pas une faiblesse. Au contraire, elle est une force dont vous devriez être fiers. Rehaussez vos capacités, obtenez les connaissances nécessaires pour exceller, faites du réseautage et soyez prêts à saisir les possibilités. Ne vous laissez pas intimider et utilisez toujours votre différence comme un avantage pour vous distinguer. Rappelez-vous, vous avez une grande valeur à contribuer à ce secteur qui en a vraiment besoin.
Y aura-t-il des embûches? Peut-être. Mais une chose que vous ne devez jamais faire, c’est de baisser les bras. Trouvez des moyens de vous encourager. Moi, je me suis toujours encouragée par des affirmations extraites de la Bible. Soyez proactifs et allez de l’avant!

Je suis enchantée de ma courte expérience jusqu’à présent dans le secteur de l’océan. Mon organisation m’a offert de nombreuses occasions extraordinaires dont cette invitation à vous écrire et à devenir un Modèle de rôle d’Ocean Allies. Il s’agit là d’un grand honneur, d’un privilège et d’une leçon d’humilité. Je vois l’effort fait par Supergrappe des océans et le secteur de l’océan dans son ensemble; et je le salue. Je tiens à remercier toutes les organisations, toutes les personnes et tous les leaders de l’océan qui ne ménagent aucun effort pour favoriser un secteur plus diversifié et inclusif.

Évidemment, il y aura toujours place à amélioration, mais il faut persévérer, alors que nous pouvons tous ensemble faire croître l’économie de l’océan vers un secteur équitable, diversifié et inclusif.

Ogaga Johnson, gestionnaire du leadership technologique de Supergrappe des océans du Canada et Modèle de rôle d’Ocean Allies

By: Ogaga Johnson, Technology Leadership Manager, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster & Industry Mentor with Ocean Allies

Diversity, equity, and inclusion – in any sector – are critical to ensuring we have insights and perspectives from a diverse workforce while growing the ocean economy. Growth is limited when inclusion is absent, and to be world-leading, we must consider the opinions of diverse individuals.

The Ocean Allies Role Model Initiative aims to build a roster of diverse superstars in the ocean economy. Doing this helps spotlight diverse individuals thriving in the ocean sector and creates a sense of belonging to others interested in ocean-related careers.

A picture tells a thousand words when talking about having diverse industry role models. Beyond the words, webinars, or opportunities, seeing and learning from others who have succeeded helps paint a picture of what the future can hold for all those who wish to participate in the ocean economy. Seeing people who look like « me » gives powerful reassurance and validity to anyone hoping to enter the ocean space and sends a message that you do not have to look a certain way or have a specific background to have a voice or shine in Canada’s ocean economy.

Leadership in this particular area needs attention in the ocean sector. We need a workforce that enables diverse populations and the ability to advance in positions of leadership and influence. As a young, professional woman from the black community, I can attest to this. We need to see more people like us in leadership and influential positions to know that we are truly welcomed, valued, have the opportunity to grow, and that our voice can be heard. As an Ocean Allies Role Model, I hope I can give this type of affirmation to other young people in the ocean space.

It’s wonderful to see work continuing in this area. To industry, keep shining the spotlight and telling stories of diverse individuals who have excelled in the ocean sector. By providing such visibility, you are helping diverse superstars shine their light even brighter, helping others know it is possible to shine their lights as well. Diverse employees bring a unique perspective and can make a powerful contribution to the workforce. Whether it be race, culture, age, or gender, we all bring special value and insight to the ocean sector.

To my fellow diverse professionals considering participating in ocean – jump on board! Your dreams are valid, and you can achieve them. Your diverse background is not a weakness but instead a strength that you should be proud of. Build your capacity, get the knowledge needed to excel, network, and put yourself forward for opportunities. Do not be intimidated, and always use your difference as an advantage to shine. Remember, you have so much value to contribute to this sector – and it’s needed.

Will there be setbacks? Maybe. But one thing you should never do is quit or stop trying. Find ways to encourage yourself. For me, I always encourage myself through bible affirmations. Always keep moving and making progress!

So far, I have enjoyed my short time in the ocean sector. I have been given several amazing opportunities by my organization, including this guest feature, and being featured as a role model with Ocean Allies. It is a great honor, privilege and very humbling. I see the effort made the Ocean Supercluster and ocean sector as a whole – and I celebrate it. I want to thank all the organizations, individuals and leaders in ocean that are tirelessly working to ensure a more diverse and inclusive sector.

There will always room for improvement, but please don’t get tired, as together we can grow the ocean economy to be a sector that is equitable, diverse and inclusive.

Ogaga Johnson, Technology Leadership Manager, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster & Industry Role Model, Ocean Allies

World Ocean Day 2021: One Ocean, One Climate, One Future – Together

By: Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster

The federal government has just recently launched public consultations on a Blue Economy Strategy. This has been much anticipated since it was first mentioned in Ministerial mandate letters of December 2019. We are pleased to share some thoughts for readers to consider.

Our vision is for Canada’s seafood sector to be nothing less than the best quality and sustainable producers in the world. Our nation depends on it. Our vision sees the future of the seafood sector – wild and farmed together – resulting in:

• Coastal and Indigenous communities thriving: new schools, new community centres and hospitals being built, young people returning, with women employed as much as men, with a sense of purpose and excitement in their work, of pride in their jobs, of a sense of a future of great hope and opportunity.
• Canadian innovation and technology based on our sector being sent around the world, and collaboration with other nations in a dynamic enterprise of sustainable value creation.

Seafood production is at the core of the Blue Economy for Canada. Our sector is the largest of the ocean economy, representing 90,000 jobs and $9 billion in GDP. There are no other sectors that promise as much renewal and stability for coastal communities.

We tick so many boxes: sustainable production, food security, low-carbon food, coastal community development, Indigenous reconciliation, aquaculture with the youngest workforce in all of Canadian agri-food, science and innovation.

The future of seafood is both sustainably wild harvested and farmed. The work of Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) together with the Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) on our joint vision and action plan for the Blue Economy Strategy is the result of this shared belief.
Science and innovation – for example, the development and application of Artificial Intelligence – is driven by primary industry, like seafood. You must have a strong and stable primary industry such as ours to build everything around it.

The world, led by the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Oceans Economy, has clearly identified seafood as the leading solution to global sustainable food production. The Panel concluded the following:

• Food from the sea provides essential vitamins, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients not found in plant-source foods or other proteins. This is important for global nutrition.
• The world can produce six times more sustainable seafood by 2050 than today. This is critical to global food security.
• Increasing the fraction of ocean-based food in the global diet and reducing the share of animal-based foods would contribute significantly to climate change mitigation.
• Investing in sustainably sourced ocean-based protein yields strong environmental, economic and health benefits – a ratio of 10:1. Canada’s coastal communities would surely welcome such investments.

Unfortunately, Canada continues to fall behind. We have gone from the largest seafood exporter to eighth in the world and falling. Our aquaculture production has flatlined for 20 years.

But there is a clear path forward. We have a vision – to seize the podium of global best sustainable producers. When we achieve that, we will have doubled the value of Canadian fish and seafood, doubled the economic benefits, and doubled domestic consumption.

These are bold aspirations without a doubt. It will take extraordinary effort and collaboration. It will require us to think outside the box. It will mean challenging the status quo in some respects.

One area where industry has to take the lead is innovation. Yes, government can certainly facilitate, and must keep pace in allowing new innovations to take hold and further strengthen our sustainable production practices. But industry must determine what innovations will simultaneously advance performance and meet market demands.

While companies continue to innovate in their usual methods, the Ocean Supercluster (OSC) is the most significant ocean economy collaboration in our lifetime. Members and partners of the OSC are developing new technologies that will transform sectors. We encourage all supply chain participants to climb aboard and contribute to the future successes that the OSC is creating today.

By doing so, we will get away from a mentality in Canada that says “We can’t do this” to one that says “We can do this.” The OSC and now the Blue Economy Strategy can be the sparks that lit the change to revitalize coastal communities across Canada. Working together we can achieve the High-Level Panel’s triple-win vision – for people, nature, and the economy, and most importantly, make Canadian seafood production the very best in the world and the pride of Canada.

Paul Lansbergen is President, Fisheries Council of Canada
Timothy Kennedy is President and CEO, Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

Happy 2021!  There are many of us who breathed a collective sigh of relief as the first day of 2021 began.  While we continue to face significant challenges, there is much hope that the months ahead will start to bring greater normalcy, health and well-being, and a path to economic recovery. I am finding that this January, even more so than usual, is bringing with it many conversations about what we have learned in 2020 about ourselves, about each other and about the world around us and how to move forward while still navigating many uncertainties.

This January is an exciting one in the global ocean economy.  This year marks the official start of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development which offers a common framework for countries to sustainably manage oceans. This is critically important as countries around the world, Canada included, consider their strategies for the blue economy and prepare for their role in it.

In December 2020, the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, bringing together fourteen countries with a common goal to protect the ocean, issued its ocean action agenda: Transformations for a Sustainable Ocean Economy – A vision for Production, Protection and Prosperity. As a member of this panel, our Prime Minister shared, “Having the world’s longest coastline, Canada recognizes that our economy and our well-being are deeply connected with the health of our oceans, and that we have a responsibility to protect them.”

While there are many opportunities for growth in our ocean economy, the ocean is also facing tremendous pressure.  This week was another reminder of this as Fisheries and Oceans Canada released a report on rising temperatures in the deep waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence that poses a significant risk to a variety of species, and points to the kinds of the challenges we are seeing in ocean, not off in the future, but here and now.

This year will also be an important one for the Canadian ocean economy.  Its priority further reinforced in the recent updated mandate letters to Federal Ministers that maintained the delivery of Canada’s Blue Economy Strategy as a key priority. I look forward to being able to support its development as the Government of Canada begins public consultations in the coming weeks.

So in amongst all this, what does 2021 look like for Canada’s Ocean Supercluster?  We continue to focus on changing the way ocean business is done.  We are excited to be working with organizations rolling out projects from across the country.  As an industry-led organization, we have seen increased investments in key areas in 2020 that we will continue to build upon in 2021:

An increasingly digital ocean economy: developing scalable, innovative solutions to digitize ocean operations, accelerate ocean product development and increase remote and autonomous capabilities.  This includes the use of sensors and autonomous vehicles to increase data collection supporting better decision making and increased safety with projects like: Ocean Vision, the very first OSC project to be announced that is heading into its second year building robotics-as-a-service, Digital Ship In Service Support, our first BC-led OSC project building digital twin capability in shipbuilding, and Digital Offshore Canada, our most recently announced project focused on digital twins in the offshore.

An increasingly sustainable ocean economy: developing solutions that provide alternative sources of energy or fuel, developing supply chains that focus on waste re-utilization and building a circular economy and reducing green house gas emissions, projects like: Ocean Aware Project that focuses on fish tracking and environmental monitoring, or the Ocean Energy Smart Grid Integration Project which provides a solution to get more communities off diesel power, or the GIT Smart Protective Coatings Project bringing to market a non-toxic, graphene-based protective coating for vessels that reduces fuel consumption and underwater radiant noise.

An increasingly inclusive ocean economy: while many of our projects create opportunities for under-represented groups, we have several projects specifically focused on increasing our knowledge of our current workforce including: Ocean Allies Project which is developing strategies to access, engage, and support greater diversity in ocean; the Indigenous Career Pivot Pilot Project which is helping mid-career Indigenous peoples pivot to a career in ocean; and the Inclusive Workforce for Arctic Ocean Technologies Project addressing the barriers faced by Inuit in remote northern communities to promote their participation in the ocean economy.

All of this project activity has attracted international interest where Canada has a key role to play in an increasingly global ocean conversation. Just this morning I had the opportunity for the first time to participate in an event hosted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry as they explore their challenges and opportunities in the blue economy.  For Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, international engagement is important and certainly allows us to provide leadership not only in the global conversation on the blue economy, but also in the delivery of solutions and creating the economic benefits for Canadians that come as a result.

In 2020, we focused on building our momentum, recognizing the ocean economy would play a key role in our long-term economic recovery despite the impacts of the pandemic.  In 2021, our focus will be on project impacts, and sharing our stories with all Canadians and the world.  We have every reason to emerge as a leader in ocean globally and build back bluer.

Kendra MacDonald
CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster  

 

 

Earlier this month marked 2 years since Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced its contribution agreement. To mark the occasion,
the senior management team provides some reflections on the journey so far.