ON THE MAP
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster chases smart solutions for a more sustainable future
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster chases smart solutions for a more sustainable marine future
CCall it the Catch-22 of the ocean. Humans need the ocean. Yet we harm the ocean. And even as our dependency on the marine world grows, our assault intensifies. The problems show up in three main areas. The first is food. Billions of us — and more each day — rely on fish and shellfish. But we are catching too much, putting a main source of protein at risk. The second is carbon. As we burn fossil fuels, we put carbonbased gases in the atmosphere. Like a sponge, the ocean soaks some of them up. That kicks off a chemical chain reaction that makes the ocean more acidic, in turn making it tough for marine creatures to use calcium to make bones, teeth and shells. At the same time, carbon in the atmosphere traps heat, and the ocean absorbs that, too. It adds up to a marine environment that is becoming less hospitable to sea life. The third is biodiversity. As we deplete the seas, scrape away living space for marine plants and animals, and warm up and acidify the water, the ocean’s tapestry of life is unravelling. And with it, its capacity to regulate the planet’s life-support systems. But Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, an industry-led, government-sponsored not-for-profit set up in 2018, is finding smart solutions. With more than 400 members across the country, it is a catalyst for businesses of all sizes to join forces. By linking people, ideas and money, it speeds up innovations that will allow us to make smarter, more efficient and ultimately longerlasting use of the sea. With a promise of $153 million in federal funds, to be matched by industry, these inventions are hitting the lab sooner, meaning they can also be brought to market sooner. Among them: safer ice travel, cleaner energy, more sustainable seas, all briefly detailed on three maps over the next four pages. Many are world firsts. And while the primary aim is to grow sustainable Canadian marine businesses, these new ideas are drawing international attention too, with the potential to help solve problems across the global ocean.
CUTTING CARBON
So far, just one fully electrified Seaspan commercial goods ferry is operating as part of a field trial that Corvus Energy Inc. is running with support from the Supercluster to test its new lithium-ion marine-grade batteries. Corvus has its systems on a total of six ferries along the West Coast — two with
Seaspan and four with BC Ferries. It’s part of a grander electrification plan. BC Ferries has six hybrid vessels in its fleet of 37, with two in use now and four more set to sail in 2022 on shorter routes. Battery-operated and designed for full electric operation, the hybrid system bridges the gap until shorecharging infrastructure becomes more common. Eventually, the new lithium-ion batteries could be used more widely, including on cruise ships and freighters when they sail near shore. In all, tens of thousands of ships globally will be eligible for electrification, a move that stands to cut megatonnes of carbon, as well as other airborne pollutants.
EYES AND EARS IN THE SEA
As the ocean warms, fish are changing where they go and what they do, becoming harder than ever to track. The Ocean Aware project, with aquatic technologies company Innovasea, is solving some of the mysteries. Optical sensors are being used to monitor the impacts of hydroelectric sites and tidal energy projects on marine life, while along the coast, the company is checking the health of farmed fish by assessing metrics like temperature and ocean chemistry. In the open ocean, the project wants to track the whereabouts of vanishing wild Atlantic salmon, implanting individual fish with small devices that provide a constant stream of data. Most of these innovations are still under development — from optical sensors to ocean chemistry assessors, and from acoustic tracking devices to autonomous gliders. They all add up to a future where we understand the ocean better so we can keep it healthier.