Grieg Seafood Newfoundland and aquaculture technology company Innovasea will partner on a CAD 5.9 million (USD 4.3 million, EUR 3.8 million) fish welfare project sponsored in part by Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC).
The OSC supports the development and commercialization of made-in-Canada marine solutions that respond to pressing global challenges such as energy transition, food security, and climate change. It announced the project, entitled the Enhanced Aquaculture Technology for Marine Health Project, at its Ambition 2035 Summit, held 21 to 23 May in Ottawa.
The project seeks to improve fish welfare on Grieg sites in Newfoundland through the use of H2S sensors and AI-powered camera systems for real-time monitoring. It is hoped that these techniques will advance operational efficiency, leading to higher yields and reduced losses.
"By co-investing in innovative technologies that improve fish health, we’re enhancing operational efficiency, creating new revenue streams, contributing to our own food security, and helping feed the world," OSC CEO Kendra MacDonald said.
Quebec Minister of Industry and Economic Development Mélanie Joly added that the project’s goals “align with the Government of Canada’s commitment to building a stronger and more resilient Canada ... where healthy, thriving ocean ecosystems remain at the heart of our vision for generations to come.”
CAD 2.3 million (USD 1.7 million, EUR 1.5 million) will come from the OSC, with the rest of the funding coming from Grieg and Innovasea themselves.
The OSC also announced a number of other projects at the Ambition 2035 event.
One project, which uses AI to address safety and operational productivity in ocean labor environments, will be supported by CAD 2.5 million (USD 1.8 million, EUR 1.6 million) from OSC. Another, entitled the Smart Hook project, will attempt to use autonomous systems to recover subsea untethered vehicles that are used in industries like deep sea mining. For that project, OSC will contribute CAD 1.2 million (USD 868,000, EUR 769,000), while the project partners – Impossible Metals Canada, SEAMOR Marine, and Enginuity Inc. – will contribute the funding balance of CAD 4 million (USD 2.9 million, EUR 2.6 million).
The OSC has invested heavily in tech-enabled aquaculture solutions, including AI and machine-learning projects, especially for fish-monitoring projects.
In 2023, for instance, the cluster pooled member money to advance technology that would help power companies track fish so that they might maximize energy production at hydropower facilities while still safeguarding fish safety.
