Ocean program projects

The NRC's Ocean program supports over 60 collaborative projects with partners from industry, academia and the not-for-profit sector. These projects benefit from grants and contributions awarded through the Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program administered by the NRC's National Program Office. Our projects help to solve some of the most pressing ocean challenges and support the growth of Canada's sustainable blue economy.

The Ocean program's work focuses on 4 themes:

The following stories showcase some of the projects undertaken by the NRC's Ocean program.

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Title Area of focus Summary
Sailing to sustainability: Pathways to zero-impact shipping
Pollution remediation Researchers from the NRC are working with partners at Clear Seas and the University of British Columbia to assess the potential of technologies to reduce shipping's environmental footprint.
Modelling and measuring microplastics in Canada's rivers and oceans
Pollution remediation Researchers from the NRC and Ocean Wise are developing a consistent method to collect, analyze and report microplastics data.
From diesel to data: Decarbonizing Canada's ships
Pollution remediation NRC researchers are working with the Canadian Coast Guard to identify operational adjustments that can help ship operators reduce their fuel use and incorporate greener fuels.
"Breaking the ice" on safer and more efficient Arctic navigation
Intelligent marine assets NRC researchers in collaboration with Memorial University created a computer modeling tool to aid in planning safe and efficient Arctic voyages.
How Canada is advancing autonomous ships and smart ocean technology
Aquatic science NRC and Transport Canada are developing a research strategy to help provide a framework for advancing MASS technology in Canada.
Understanding best practices towards Indigenous engagement in blue economy research
Coastal resilience The NRC develops best practices to make sure it's blue economy research has an inclusive growth strategy that incorporates Indigenous perspectives.
Blue economy assessment framework for Atlantic Canada
Pollution remediation The NRC is developing a practical definition for the business community of what it means to be a blue economy company
A "shore" thing? Salt marshes protect Canadian coasts from erosion
Front view of the 120-metre long outdoor tank with a wave of water washing over the plants, now lying flat just below the water's surface.
Coastal resilience Researchers from the NRC, supported by the Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering research centre, and partners at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) are studying salt marshes to understand how much protection they provide for coasts, how and where they work best and how they compare with traditional built coastal structures.
Machine learning-based models forecast seasonal runoff in the Prairie provinces
A meandering river flows through a wide-open wetland area at the base of mountains, dotted with sparse spruce and with dark, low clouds above.
Coastal resilience NRC researchers are using machine learning to forecast seasonal runoff in over 100 watersheds throughout the Prairie provinces and help improve water management across the region.
Seagrass could help protect coast from storm surge and erosion
A sandy and rocky beach sits at the bottom of a steep grassy hill and rocky cliffs dotted with trees.
Coastal resilience The NRC and Memorial University researchers and students are developing computer models that could help us determine how best to protect our coast using nature-based solutions, such as seagrass.
Dredged sand used as a nature-based solution against coastal erosion
A small brown and white bird with a bright orange beak and feet stands motionless on a sandy beach on a sunny day.
Coastal resilience The NRC, in partnership with Saint Mary's University, is using numerical modelling tools to determine the effectiveness of restoring the lost habitat of the piping plover on the Chiasson Office spit in New Brunswick using nature-based techniques.
Decreasing emissions and increasing efficiency of small boats
A fishing boat glides slowly across still waters next to the shoreline.
Pollution remediation The NRC helped a Canadian-based company convert boats to all electric or hybrid propulsion and develop systems to help operators reduce their costs and vessels' emissions.
Upcycling seafood waste
A top view of a lab workstation shows 3 salmon heads laid out on a tray along with 3 small tubes containing different colour liquids, a small metal reaction vessel and a computer screen.
Bio assets NRC researchers are working with the Memorial University of Newfoundland to investigate how to cost-effectively repurpose seafood waste into products with commercial value.
Marine navigation and charting a greener course with artificial intelligence
Queen of Oak Bay ferry with mountains in the background
Intelligent marine assets NRC Researchers are developing AI-based technology that could provide ship captains with real-time navigation guidance to help decrease fuel consumption, fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Eco-friendly breakwaters do double duty as welcoming homes for marine life
Concrete installation along the ocean covered in biodiversity
Coastal resilience With help of the NRC, a marine technology company has developed breakwaters to not only protect shorelines but also marine biodiversity.
Autonomous fleet ice management via reinforcement learning
Man leans over a water-filled indoor basin with small pieces of floating plastic ice as he adjusts small model vessels
Intelligent marine assets Researchers and engineers at the NRC and Memorial University are applying the idea of swarm intelligence to the challenge of navigating in ice-covered seas.

From: National Research Council Canada

 
 
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