Ocean seen as prime business incubator
Innovation is playing an increasingly important role within the various businesses based on the resources provided by the World’s oceans, with traditional fisheries facing stagnation in view of fish stocks being largely harvested to their maximum sustainable rate or beyond. As Chronicle Herald reporter Brett Bundale reports, this represents “A sea change for Nova Scotia companies;
What do fish farmers, undergarment research and tidal power have in common? They all have to do with ocean innovation and play an essential role in the Atlantic region’s economy, business leaders gathered at the Atlantic Prosperity Summit at the World Trade and Convention Centre in Halifax heard Tuesday. “There is potential for significant economic benefit if we expand beyond traditional uses of waterfronts in Atlantic Canada,” Murray Hill, Nova Scotia regional manager of the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association, said in an interview.
The aquaculture industry has evolved significantly, Hill said, noting that innovations in feed have made salmon the most efficiently grown animal protein. “We’ve almost got to a one-to one feed ratio, which means for a pound of feed going into the cage we get a pound of salmon out. Hogs are about six to one and beef is about eight to one.” Fish farmers have also branched out into “multi-thropic” aquaculture by growing mussels and seaweed adjacent to salmon farms that feed off unused nutrients and byproducts of salmon, he said. “We are the leading experts in the world of tank production of Atlantic salmon, and we’re innovating all the time.”
But it’s not just fish farming that’s changing the ocean sector in Atlantic Canada. Climate Technical Gear Ltd., formerly Helly Hansen Canada Ltd., has revolutionized commercial work clothing. “It’s a growing industry,” president Dan Clarke said in an interview. “The whole idea around safety products and worker health and safety is absolutely exploding because of stricter regulations and standards.” Clarke said most of the company’s research and development is done in Dartmouth. Climate Technical Gear recently hired about 100 production workers to expand its garment manufacturing plant. “There is a huge amount of room to grow and innovate in the future. Fabrics such as PVC-coated cotton have been around for a very long time and are very effective at keeping somebody dry but they don’t allow the body to breathe. There is a lot of science around fabrics that allow body moisture to breathe.”
Meanwhile, ocean technology has also spurred innovations in renewable energy. John Woods, vice-president of energy development for Minas Basin Pulp & Power Co. Ltd., said the company’s tidal power demonstration and research facility is progressing. The company is hoping to make commercial tidal power in the Bay of Fundy a reality. “We’re working on it and fine-tuning the approach. We’re quite patient and not taking any shortcuts.”
