The NRC's Ocean program supports over 60 collaborative projects with partners from industry, academia and the not-for-profit sector. These projects benefit from grants and contributions awarded through the Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program administered by the NRC's National Program Office. Our projects help to solve some of the most pressing ocean challenges and support the growth of Canada's sustainable blue economy.
The Ocean program's work focuses on 4 themes:
The following stories showcase some of the projects undertaken by the NRC's Ocean program.
Use the filtering options below to change the focus of your results in the following table.
| Title | Area of focus | Summary |
|---|---|---|
Tiny plastics, big challenge: setting the standard for detection 
| Pollution remediation | NRC scientists are setting global standards for detecting the tiniest plastics—developing new tools to uncover how micro‑ and nanoplastics affect our environment and health |
Tiny clues in the tides: how plankton DNA helps track a warming ocean 
| Bio assets | In collaboration with Dalhousie University, researchers at our Aquatic and Crop Resource Development Research Centre are studying phytoplankton — microscopic organisms that play a vital role in ocean health. By tracking how some of them respond differently to warming waters, the team is uncovering early signs of how climate change is reshaping marine ecosystems and what that means for the future of ocean life. |
From fish to freight: A story of bio-inspired innovation 
| Intelligent marine assets | Researchers at the NRC and Queen's University build on previous NRC work to develop a novel approach inspired by nature that could significantly improve fuel efficiency and transform the trucking industry. |
Artificial Intelligence does double duty, predicting ocean health and securing ocean data 
| Pollution remediation | NRC researchers are developing machine learning-based techniques for monitoring and analyzing the effects of natural and human stressors on Canada's blue carbon ecosystem using a secure underwater communication network composed of a suite of sensors. |
How satellites help reach climate goals: Cerulean Information Factory 
| Bio assets, Coastal resilience, Intelligent marine assets, Pollution remediation | Scientists at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the European Space Agency use satellite data to accelerate the transition of Canada and Europe to a sustainable ocean future. |
Sailing to sustainability: Pathways to zero-impact shipping 
| Pollution remediation | Researchers from the NRC are working with partners at Clear Seas and the University of British Columbia to assess the potential of technologies to reduce shipping's environmental footprint. |
Modelling and measuring microplastics in Canada's rivers and oceans 
| Pollution remediation | Researchers from the NRC and Ocean Wise are developing a consistent method to collect, analyze and report microplastics data. |
From diesel to data: Decarbonizing Canada's ships 
| Pollution remediation | NRC researchers are working with the Canadian Coast Guard to identify operational adjustments that can help ship operators reduce their fuel use and incorporate greener fuels. |
"Breaking the ice" on safer and more efficient Arctic navigation 
| Intelligent marine assets | NRC researchers in collaboration with Memorial University created a computer modeling tool to aid in planning safe and efficient Arctic voyages. |
How Canada is advancing autonomous ships and smart ocean technology 
| Aquatic science | NRC and Transport Canada are developing a research strategy to help provide a framework for advancing MASS technology in Canada. |
Understanding best practices towards Indigenous engagement in blue economy research 
| Coastal resilience | The NRC develops best practices to make sure it's blue economy research has an inclusive growth strategy that incorporates Indigenous perspectives. |
Blue economy assessment framework for Atlantic Canada 
| Pollution remediation | The NRC is developing a practical definition for the business community of what it means to be a blue economy company |
A "shore" thing? Salt marshes protect Canadian coasts from erosion 
| Coastal resilience | Researchers from the NRC, supported by the Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering research centre, and partners at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) are studying salt marshes to understand how much protection they provide for coasts, how and where they work best and how they compare with traditional built coastal structures. |
Machine learning-based models forecast seasonal runoff in the Prairie provinces 
| Coastal resilience | NRC researchers are using machine learning to forecast seasonal runoff in over 100 watersheds throughout the Prairie provinces and help improve water management across the region. |
Seagrass could help protect coast from storm surge and erosion 
| Coastal resilience | The NRC and Memorial University researchers and students are developing computer models that could help us determine how best to protect our coast using nature-based solutions, such as seagrass. |
Dredged sand used as a nature-based solution against coastal erosion 
| Coastal resilience | The NRC, in partnership with Saint Mary's University, is using numerical modelling tools to determine the effectiveness of restoring the lost habitat of the piping plover on the Chiasson Office spit in New Brunswick using nature-based techniques. |
Decreasing emissions and increasing efficiency of small boats 
| Pollution remediation | The NRC helped a Canadian-based company convert boats to all electric or hybrid propulsion and develop systems to help operators reduce their costs and vessels' emissions. |
| Bio assets | NRC researchers are working with the Memorial University of Newfoundland to investigate how to cost-effectively repurpose seafood waste into products with commercial value. |
Marine navigation and charting a greener course with artificial intelligence 
| Intelligent marine assets | NRC Researchers are developing AI-based technology that could provide ship captains with real-time navigation guidance to help decrease fuel consumption, fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions. |
Eco-friendly breakwaters do double duty as welcoming homes for marine life 
| Coastal resilience | With help of the NRC, a marine technology company has developed breakwaters to not only protect shorelines but also marine biodiversity. |
Autonomous fleet ice management via reinforcement learning 
| Intelligent marine assets | Researchers and engineers at the NRC and Memorial University are applying the idea of swarm intelligence to the challenge of navigating in ice-covered seas. |