Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation
The Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation (CCFI) with offices in St. John's, Newfoundland and Halifax, Nova Scotia, is owned by Memorial University of Newfoundland, and funded by the Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF).
Established in 1989, the Centre conducts research and
development for the fishing industry. The Centre is a non-
profit federally incorporated body which provides the scientific
and technical capabilities of Atlantic Canadian universities and technical colleges to the fishery and the aquaculture industry of the region.
The Centre is active in aquaculture, fish harvesting, processing, resource-related research, marine biotechnology and equipment development. In collaboration with industry clients, CCFI also explores the latest scientific and technical innovations to enhance the profitability and productivity of the Atlantic Caost fishery and aquaculture industry.
Environmental Profile
RESEARCH CAPACITY
CCFI makes available the capabilities of the universities and technical colleges of Atlantic Canada for applied research and development in the fishery and aquaculture industry. State-of-the-art science and engineering laboratories; fish processing pilot plants; wave, ice and flume tanks; specialized facilities for fish product development, pilot-scale aquaculture operations, quarantine, fish health and pathology services, biotechnology, equipment and fishing gear development and a host of other facilities are available to industry throughout the region. They are operated by hundreds of marine, fisheries and other scientists and engineers who together provide unequalled expert assistance to anyone in the fishery and aquaculture industry wishing to overcome obstacles and meet opportunities.
Services include
farm-site selection
feed development and analysis
fish husbandry
commercial-scale feeding trials
diagnosis of bacterial and parasitic disease in fish
design and cost information for hatcheries
design of grow-out systems for fish and shellfish culture
optimizing shellfish farm production , and
bivalve larvae and spat monitoring.
PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN RECENTLY IN AQUACULTURE:
Development of Value-added Mussel Products
Shellfish Holding for Live Product Delivery
Development and Testing of Biodegradable Mussel Sock Material
Development of Sea-based and Land-based Sea Urchin Operations
Offshore Aquaculture Development
Halibut Broodstock Development
Assessment of Harvest-Quality of Cultured Cod
HARVESTING
Harvesting R&D in Atlantic Canada relies heavily on the facilities and personnel at Memorial University and the Marine Institute. The research and development services include development of harvesting technologies, resource surveys, conservation-oriented technologies, development of emerging fisheries and associated services, and design and development of vessels and vessel technologies.
PROJECTS RECENTLY UNDERTAKEN IN HARVESTING:
Development of Methods and Technologies for Sustainable Fisheries
Investigation of the Fecundity and Reproductive Capacity of Cod and Flatfish
Surf Clam Resource Survey
Biological Resource Assessment and Habitat Utilization of Sea Cucumbers
Mitigation of American Plaice and Wolffish By-catch
Improving the Selectivity of Conical Pots used in Crab Fishery
Design and Testing of Pots for Atlantic Halibut fishery
Reducing Seabed Impacts of Fishing Gear
Investigation of Vertical Distribution of Northern Shrimp in Water Column
PROCESSING
The Atlantic Provinces are home to many specialized services in food technology and processing both within the walls of their universities and technical colleges and associated with them.
Services in fish processing include
Value-added product development
Development of processing technologies
Quality enhancements and safety systems
PROJECTS RECENTLY UNDERTAKEN IN PROCESSING:
Liquid Ice System for Holding Shrimp
Shrimp Processing Production Improvements
Impact of Seasonality on the Product Properties of Ascophyllum nodosum
Development of Redfish Surimi
Development of Crab Meat Extraction Technology
CCFI'S INDUSTRIAL LIAISON OFFICE
The Centre's Industrial Liaison Officers work with industry to
identify key opportunities in aquaculture, harvesting and
processing. Their services to individual industry clients are
always directed toward developing and carrying out successful research and development projects that will solve the client's problem or allow for taking advantage of a new opportunity. To ensure high-quality project work, the ILOs will contract the scientific
personnel necessary, coordinate their participation, arrange for
the use of University facilities, assist in the development of
business plans, help to develop a research plan and manage the
project, so that professional final results are available on
time. The ILOs will help find other sources of funding and if
necessary make CCFI funding available.
Company Details
Year Established:
1989
Number of Employees:
6
Company Information
Cathie Horan
Title:
Admin/Exec Assistant
Area of Responsibility:
Customer Service
Telephone:
(709) 778-0515
Fax:
(709) 778-0516
Email:
Click Here
Alastair O'rielly
Title:
Managing Director
Telephone:
(709) 778-0517
Fax:
(709) 778-0516
Email:
Click Here
Brian Collier
Title:
Representative
Area of Responsibility:
Research/Development/Engineering
Telephone:
(709) 778-0537
Fax:
(709) 778-0516
Email:
Click Here
Products
Marine Biotechnology
Environmental Products And Services
Genetic Analysis
Genetic analysis of stock structure found that turbot from Iceland, Norway, the Davis Straight, the Flemish Cap and the Gulf of St. Lawrence are all part of one very large population of free moving turbot. This has implications for the international fisheries managers who must manage the species as one large unit.
Genetic Analysis Of Turbot From Different Areas
Proper fish stock management requires knowledge of the size and geographic distribution of fish stocks. It was hypothesized that northwest Atlantic turbot were actually only part of one larger north Atlantic stock. Samples of turbot from different areas of the north Atlantic were analysed for differences and similarities in the DNA. The genetic material sampled indicated a significant degree of intermingling of the fishes from waters of Iceland, Norway, the Davis Straight, the Flemish Cap and the Gulf of St. Lawrence as a result. Fish from these areas are now considered to form part of one large population of free-moving turbot.
Locating The Lost Gear Quickly Through Use Of A Locator Device
Every year untold numbers of gillnets break free while fishing and drift through the water, continuing to fish any species that gets in its way. The need for a low-cost device to locate the lost gear is critical. The project will evaluate a locally developed technology, the Gearfinder 700, an acoustic fishing gear locator device. The researchers will conduct a thorough literature search on locator devices and conduct tests on the Gearfinder. The second phase will include design modifications if needed. It is hoped that the result will be a cost-effective mechanism to be used throughout the fishing industry to locate lost fishing gear.
Harvesting Gear Designs That Are Environmentally Friendly, Conservative Of Resources And Economically Viable
Reviewed international literature on the economic and environmental issues concerning East Coast groundfish harvesting gears; co-sponsored an industry workshop on groundfish harvesting gears; researchers in the process of identifying harvesting gears that are environmentally friendly, conservative of resources and economically viable.
Services
Research And Development
The Centre conducts research and development for the fishing
industry.
Biotechnology