Memorial University’s role in the province’s burgeoning aquaculture industry was one of the subjects on the agenda of a recent conference organized by the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association.

Memorial’s Ocean Sciences Centre (OSC) in Logy Bay recently received an Atlantic Foundation for Innovation grant of over $4-million to provide essential research to enhance the establishment of a commercial Atlantic cod aquaculture industry in Newfoundland and to assist in the continued development of the Atlantic halibut aquaculture industry in Atlantic Canada. The total cost of the project is over $12 million

One of these projects involves a cod farm project in Bay d’Espoir. Hatchery production and research will take place at the Aquaculture Research and Development Facility of the OSC while on-growing will take place at the demonstration site in Bay d’Espoir on Newfoundland’s south coast.

The OSC is working closely with its industry partners to perform practical, timely and pertinent research to develop an economically viable aquaculture industry. Research and development work with Atlantic cod will address challenges related to broodstock, stock selection, larval production, weaning, cannibalism, juvenile growth, stocking density, ongrowing at cage sites, cage husbandry, early maturation, fish health and disease. Research with Atlantic halibut will focus on broodstock and egg quality issues.

This project is a cooperative effort between the OSC and industry partners including Newfoundland Aqua Ventures Inc., North Atlantic Sea Farms, Long Island Resources Ltd., Vinland Aqua-Farms Ltd. and the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association. A management board consisting of government, academia and private sector representatives will oversee all project activities.

The project, with total costs of $12,374,250 will receive $4,100,000 from the Atlantic Innovation Fund over a five-year period, in addition to funding from other public and private sources, including the Canada Foundation for Innovation.