Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil announced Tuesday (October 24) that nine research projects at four post-secondary institutions will receive more than $6.5 million in funding aimed at strengthening ocean science and marine technology development, tidal energy and combating coastal erosion.
One of the projects based at AV俱乐部 is DAMOS (Development of Autonomous Marine Observation Systems). DAMOS combines autonomous Slocum and Wave Gliders and fixed-tracking stations, providing the ability to make oceanographic and animal tracking measurements with unprecedented resolution in key areas of the Northwest Atlantic.
Among DAMOS鈥檚 many benefits, it will help protect the North Atlantic right whales, one of the most endangered cetaceans. 聽
鈥淭hrough the use of autonomous vehicles and sensors, we鈥檒l be able to strengthen our ability to monitor and locate right whales, identifying their real-time locations,鈥� said Sara Iverson, professor, Department of Biology and Scientific Director of the Ocean Tracking Network which co-leads DAMOS. 鈥淭hrough technology, we鈥檒l also be able to relay that information to the shipping and fishing fleets who share the sea with the right whales, allowing them to chart a course that mitigates conflict with this endangered species.鈥�
Found mostly along the Atlantic Coast, right whales have been threatened by entanglement in fishing gear and collisions with ships. It鈥檚 estimated that less than 500 right whales are in existence. This past summer, an unprecedented number of North Atlantic right whale mortalities were reported in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
鈥淭his project positions Canadian scientists to make major breakthroughs in our understanding of the ocean and its resources,鈥� said Dr. Iverson (above).
鈥淎V俱乐部 is home to the first and only comprehensive and operational glider team in Canada which is leading the way in ocean observing technologies and training. Additionally, the fixed receiver-tracking systems are made-in-Nova-Scotia-technology, further positioning our province 鈥� and Dal 鈥� as a world leader in marine research and industry.鈥�
Research funding generates broad benefits
Five other Dal-led projects received funding from the province:
- Alex Hay - Environmental Monitoring, Modelling and Forecasting Infrastructure for
Instream Tidal Energy - Stefanie Colombo - Finfish and shellfish tank systems to improve nutrition in aquaculture
- Mladen Nedimovic - National Facility for Seismic Imaging
- John Gosse 鈥� microSTARR, Ultra Sensitive Tracer Analysis for Radioisotope Research
- Bruce Martin - Effectiveness of acoustic monitoring systems and turbine audibility assessment.
鈥淚 am so very proud of our world-class researchers whose incredibly innovative work is generating an unprecedented understanding of our ocean,鈥� says Alice Aiken (above), vice-president research for AV俱乐部. 鈥淭he financial support announced today allows us to increase our capacity for discovery and innovation and offer rich research environments聽that foster聽leading-edge聽work.鈥�
Acadia University, St. Francis Xavier University and Nova Scotia Community College also received funding.
鈥淣ova Scotia has a competitive advantage in the ocean sector and we are supporting research that will have the greatest impact on the province鈥檚 economy,鈥� said Premier McNeil.
The funding is expected to create more than 170 jobs and support training for approximately 200 graduate students, interns, lab technicians, project managers and faculty.
The OFI connection
Dr. Iverson鈥檚 research is also supported by the (OFI), an international hub for ocean science led by AV俱乐部, Memorial University of Newfoundland and the University of Prince Edward Island. She is involved in three OFI projects: