Marine research station

The marine research station is globally recognized for enabling critical ocean-based research in support of the marine biotechnology sector in Canada and internationally.

Operated by our Aquatic and Crop Resource Development Research Centre, the marine research station features core infrastructure and advanced equipment for cultivating seaweed and growing microalgae in large quantities under controlled and traceable conditions.

Equipped with the latest tools for extracting and analyzing nutrients and bioactive compounds, our facility supports cutting-edge research and development.

Unique in Canada, the marine research station delivers up to 9,000 litres of pristine seawater per minute to dedicated wet lab facilities. Our labs feature marine cultivation tanks, bioreactors, monitoring equipment and biomass processing capabilities, providing a complete platform for marine bioproduct research.

Research at the station focuses on seaweed and microalgae cultivation, and biomass processing and analysis for a variety of marine species. The facility plays a key role in marine conservation including marine environmental monitoring and restoration of seaweed ecosystems. It also serves as a test site for materials in harsh coastal conditions.

Research areas

Seaweed cultivation
Algal bioproduction
Sustainable aquaculture feeds
Fish waste valorization
Advanced biosensing and ocean monitoring
Marine habitat conservation
Aquaculture

Capabilities

Advanced seawater systems: High-capacity seawater pumping with on-demand filtering, sterilization, chilling, and heating capabilities
Microalgae cultivation: Large-scale microalgae cultivation in bioreactors ranging from 300 to 2,400 litres, totaling more than 18,000 litres
Seaweed cultivation and nursery: Indoor seaweed cultivation tanks from 250 to 1,000 litres and a nursery to prepare seed materials for ocean use
Algal strain libraries: Phytoplankton and kelp gametophyte libraries and specialized photobioreactors for commercial-scale seed production
Tissue culture: Dedicated tissue culture rooms with sterilization equipment for aseptic maintenance of algae cultures
Biomass processing: Pilot-scale equipment including high-speed centrifuges with up to 5,000 litres per hour processing, as well as spray-drying and freeze-drying capabilities
Analytical tools: Comprehensive instrumentation for biomass and lipid analysis, featuring advanced extraction technologies
Controlled growth chambers: Versatile plant growth chambers for precise cultivation of algae and maintenance of strain collections
Bioactive extraction: Dynasep supercritical CO2 extraction system for the clean extraction of bioactive compounds
Laboratory-scale feed production: Post-harvest processing of aquatic and crop-based resources for on-site formulation and production of test diets and research feeds for animal nutrition studies
Comprehensive wet labs: Supporting algal cultivation, media preparation, culture monitoring, harvesting, tissue processing, and analysis
Microscopy facilities: High-resolution imaging with diverse optical configurations

Make your innovation our next project

With expertise in algal biology, aquaculture, environmental monitoring, analytical chemistry, and applied nutrition, we deliver specialized research solutions for our collaborators and clients.

We provide access to specialized infrastructure to grow seaweed and microalgae, as well as on-site harvesting, processing, and detailed analysis of algae.

Using our in-house collection of seaweed and microalgae strains, we explore various ways algae can be used commercially, creating products such as aquaculture feeds, protein concentrates, antimicrobial compounds and antioxidants.

Together, we can bridge innovation gaps, strengthen the economy, and expand global markets for Canadian industries. Let's collaborate to turn your innovative ideas into reality.