With funding in place, transformative research well under way

Fifteen ocean research projects based in Atlantic Canada have received more than $25 million in funding, an investment that’s expected to advance understanding of atmospheric and ecosystem change while also identifying ways to grow resource development in a sustainable way.

The investment in ocean research, made possible through the Canada First Research Excellence Fund and distributed by the Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI), enables teams at the University of Prince Edward Island, Memorial University of Newfoundland, and Dalhousie University to study ocean-related issues in the North Atlantic and Canadian Arctic Gateway. Projects include work to understand ocean change and help improve the potential for fisheries and aquaculture to meet global seafood demand.  

Ian Gardner, a Canada Excellence Research Chair at UPEI’s Atlantic Veterinary College, leads up a research project examining new models for salmon health management. His work will identify strategies to improve the delivery of medication to large populations of fish in order to improve antimicrobial and antiparasitic treatments. It will also use novel digital sensors to observe salmon pens and control disease.  

Project funding will be used to hire early-career scientists at UPEI. “The research will advance the aquaculture industry but our work has other benefits as well. It will also prepare the next generation of scientists for work in industry, government, and academia,” said Dr. Gardner.

Dr. Mark Fast, an Associate Professor at UPEI, is also one of the leaders of a research project entitled, Improving Sustainability & Mitigating the Challenges of Aquaculture. Specifically, his work is developing sustainable control measures for pathogens of cultured fish.

For a full summary of all research projects that have received funding, go to oceanfrontierinstitute.com/research.