ACOA Funds To Help MUN With Aquaculture Research
January 16th, 2014
The Ocean Sciences Centre at Memorial University is getting $110,000 in federal money to enhance its capacity to respond to the needs of the provincial aquaculture industry.
According to a news release the centre, located in Logy Bay, will engage in Atlantic salmon aquaculture and climate change research. New specialized machinery and equipment — heat exchangers, sand filters, sterilization units and monitoring systems — will allow the centre to increase water temperatures and enhance seawater flow rates at its Logy Bay research facility.
“This project will significantly enhance the OSC’s capacity to conduct world-class research that will benefit the aquaculture industry in Atlantic Canada, and Newfoundland and Labrador’s ability to manage and protect its commercially and ecologically important marine fish and invertebrate populations,” said Dr. Kurt Gamperl of the Department of Ocean Sciences at MUN.
The new equipment will allow the centre to focus its research on challenges facing the salmon aquaculture industry such as fish health, broodstock development, and environmental and production management. It will also explore how climate change may impact species currently cultured in the province.
The funding was announced by Rob Moore, Regional Minister for Newfoundland and Labrador and Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), through ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund.
“By enhancing the aquaculture R&D capacity of the Ocean Sciences Centre at Memorial University, we are supporting the fishing industry in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as rural communities throughout the province,” Moore said.