Minister Keith Hutchings highlighted the work done by the members participating in the project. (Photo: assembly.nl.ca/FIS)

New pump to help onshore aquaculture development

Researchers at College of the North Atlantic's (CNA) Burin campus in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) are creating a pump that could benefit isolated communities and result in the development of an onshore aquaculture industry. Federal, provincial and private partners are investing CAD 3.4 million (USD 3.28 million) to make this happen.

The objective is to build a second-generation wave-powered device to pump high volumes of sea water, and which would be used for shore-based and sea-based aquaculture and industrial heating and cooling and electrical generation, among other applications.

"This project exemplifies the research and innovation potential that exists in rural areas of NL," said Minister Responsible for the Research & Development Corporation (RDC) Keith Hutchings. "Today's investment highlights CNA's research expertise and interest in working with local companies and communities to further development opportunities in rural areas."

Major partners in the project include the National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), which gave CAD 2.3 million (USD 2.2 million) , and the Research & Development Corporation of NL which is contributing CAD 496,000 (USD 478,091). The National Research Council's (NRC) Institute for Ocean Technology will be providing engineering design assistance.

Glenn Janes, CEO of RDC, believes that this research and development has great potential to support the technical needs of the aquaculture industry in NL.

"At the same time, the project scope supports the creation of highly-qualified personnel with opportunities to recruit, foster and retain research talent as well as provide students with valuable hands-on research, training and work experience," he said.

Local fishers are also supporting the development of infrastructure at the Lord's Cove, NL test site and the project has received high support from local communities and town councils.

The test site work will be done in conjunction with the Lord's Cove Harbour Authority and local seafood processing company, Ocean Choice International (OCI).

"The possibilities surrounding this project are immense, and not just from an applied research perspective," said Ann Marie Vaughan, president of CNA. "This project has the potential to revitalize coastal communities in several ways.”

“It is these possibilities that solidified investments through NSERC's College and Community Innovation programme, the RDC garnered the support of a number of local partners. They all recognize the importance of this project and the impact that it can have on the social and economic framework of this region," she added.

Project administrator Dr Mike Graham expects the project to yield exciting results for renewable energy and aquaculture development.

"This project will be using that data and learning to develop and optimize a device to capture this renewable energy source, to develop sustainable aquaculture methods, and to develop a unique testing centre for wave energy research. It's a rare case of a combination of blue sky and grey seas combining to make green," said Graham.

By Natalia Real
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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