The developers of Resqunit, a floatation device designed to secure fishing gear, celebrated the opening of their Canadian operations at Dartmouth’s Center for Ocean Venture & Entrepreneurship’s (COVE) Start-Up Yard on Monday, 15 July, with the help of a familiar ally – "Deadliest Catch" star Sig Hansen.
Renowned for his appearance on the Discovery Channel’s documentary reality series “Deadliest Catch,” Hansen currently serves as the global ambassador for Resqunit – a venture founded in Norway in November 2017. A floatation device, Resqunit is triggered when a unit of fishing gear – whether it’s a lobster trap, crab pot, etc. – remains under water too long over a set period of time. Once released, the device floats to the surface, effectively “saving expensive gear, hard sought-after fish stocks, and protecting marine life that are often stuck inside these ‘ghost traps,’” according to Resqunit’s developers.
“As fishermen we hold a deep connection to the ocean waters that we are lucky to call our workplace,” said Hansen during Resqunit’s housewarming party for its new Canadian operations on 15 July. “Resqunit’s innovation will set-out to not only protect our bottom-line by saving gear and stock, it will also serve to protect the very source that provides for us – a responsibility we take seriously.”
“Resqunit was developed in order to reduce the significant economic losses that can occur for both hobby and professional fishermen when they lose their valuable gear,” added Helge Tretto Olsen, Resqunit’s CEO who was in Dartmouth for the launch. “The bigger picture is that it also protects our ocean floors and marine life by reducing the number of ghost traps and fishing gear that threaten fish, crab and lobster stocks along global coastlines. Knowing Canada’s global position as a fishing leader, we are confident that Resqunit will be embraced by the industry here.”
Halifax businessman Erik Nobbe has been tasked with overseeing Resqunit’s Canadian operations and its Dartmouth headquarters as the Canadian CEO, Olsen and Resqunit confirmed.
“Fishing is such a huge part of our past and current history, not just in Nova Scotia but Atlantic Canada wide and beyond,” Nobbe said. “The support from government, industry and investment pillars within the region has been unbelievable to date which was of no surprise to me after working in the space for more than a quarter of a century.”
The launch of Resqunit in Canada comes at a time when many are focusing on the oceans, Nobbe explained, what with the many instances of North Atlantic right whale entanglements and occurrences “ghost gear” on the ocean floor. Heightened awareness around such issues – paired with “the simplicity, functionality, and low price point of the device to rescue lost gear” – will appeal to fishers in both the lobster and crab industries, Nobbe added.
“In addition to our strong and proven fishing industry here in Nova Scotia, the province and city also works to nurture innovation and enables businesses to thrive,” he said. “Establishing Resqunit’s base at COVE here in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, made perfect sense.”
Representatives from the fishing industry and elected officials, including Halifax’s Mayor Mike Savage, were also in attendance at the grand opening event of Resqunit’s Canadian headquarters on Monday.
