Ocean expertise for a sustainable future

“A healthy ocean has more to give. A healthy ocean can absorb more greenhouse gases. A healthy ocean is home to more abundant fish and marine life. A healthy ocean is one that industry, workers and our communities can rely on, and visitors can enjoy.” – The Honourable Joyce Murray, P.C., M.P., Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

The fishery, a backbone of the Newfoundland and Labrador economy, laid the foundation for a thriving ocean sector, but the present day range and depth of our blue economy expertise extends to many ocean technologies and industries. With the largest ocean economy in Canada, our province and our city are at the forefront of the ocean technology sector; well-positioned to take advantage of this rapidly expanding global market. 

As the United Nations proclaims this the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, our expertise, developed locally and applied internationally, has never been more globally relevant.

The St. John’s ocean technology innovation ecosystem is comprised of companies, institutions and organizations dedicated to ocean and marine-related technology, education, training, research and development, and promotion, and it is this wide-range of expertise that plays an increasingly important role in the responsible development of the ocean economy.

Memorial University’s Fisheries and Marine Institute is Canada’s most comprehensive centre for education, training, and research and development in support of our ocean industry. Photo credit: Destination Canada

From understanding the biodiversity of the deep ocean, to the use of advanced acoustic technologies, to imaging underneath the seabed, our diverse ocean sector capabilities include underwater robotics, unmanned underwater vehicles, simulation, specialty radar signal processing technologies, shipbuilding, and a world-leading specialization in cold ocean and harsh environment technologies, and Arctic science.

The National Research Council Canada (NRC) – Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering Research Centre in St. John's includes large scale testing and research and development facilities that simulate realistic ocean environments. Photo credit: NRC

Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada’s ocean university, is preparing young people for a myriad of ocean industry careers and conducting considerable ocean-related research. Since 2010, Memorial has invested more than $800 million in research and infrastructure related to cold ocean and Arctic science – more than 40 per cent of their overall research. MUN is also contributing to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's), the U.N.'s blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. Memorial's leadership in addressing issues relating to Life Below Water (SDG 14) is just one of the many reasons Memorial consistently ranks among the top research universities worldwide.

St. John’s is a city that attracts and cultivates students, researchers and businesses that excel in developing world leading ocean technologies, and it is only by understanding the oceans’ potential that an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable future can be achieved. St. John's is proud to play our part and to be recognized as Canada’s ocean city powerhouse.

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