The Fisheries and Marine Institute (MI) of Memorial University of Newfoundland showcased its new ocean mapping capabilities to the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education, today during a tour of the Atlanticat at MI's Southside Marine Base in St. John's Harbour. The Provincial Government invested $2.4 million to purchase new ocean-mapping equipment and support ocean technology programs at the Marine Institute. Minister King was joined by Dr. Gary Kachanoski, President and Vice-Chancellor, Memorial University; Glenn Blackwood, Executive Director, Marine Institute; and Randy Gillespie, Head of Applied Research, School of Ocean Technology, Marine Institute.

"Our government invested in this new equipment to allow the Marine Institute to enhance their capacity in applied research for the oceans and marine sectors," said Minister King. "The research conducted with the new equipment will be ground-breaking in Newfoundland and Labrador, allowing industry partners to assess the size of fish stocks, determine pipeline routes for offshore oil production and identify safer routes for vessel traffic."

The Provincial Government provided $1.5 million for the purchase of the state-of-the-art ocean mapping equipment in Budget 2009. The equipment, which was recently installed on the catamaran, Atlanticat, by the Marine Institute, includes multi-beam sonar, a sub-bottom profile, and side-scan sonar.

"In addition to the educational possibilities of the ocean mapping tools, there are also several rewards on the industrial side of the ocean technology sector," said Dr. Kachanoski. "With the state-of-the-art equipment installed, MI is able to conduct applied research in ocean mapping while at the same time teaching students. While students are training for productive careers in the ocean mapping industry, our researchers are going to be gathering new information about the offshore resources in the waters off Newfoundland and Labrador. Memorial University now has the capability to advance the art of ocean mapping in the province and the country."

"We identified ocean mapping as an area of strategic focus at the Marine Institute. Having a full suite of industry standard instruments, mounted on a dedicated vessel, gives MI the capacity to provide our students with at-sea experience in the collection of data," said Mr. Blackwood.　 "We are focused on advancing the province's capability in ocean mapping, and these new tools allow us to work closely with our partners in government and industry toward achieving this goal. The learning opportunities created for students will have positive, long-term effects on industry, with these men and women serving as the next generation of ocean mapping professionals in Newfoundland and Labrador and across the world."

The installation of the equipment coincides with the launch of MI's new joint diploma of technology/bachelor of technology in ocean mapping, which began in September at the Marine Institute's St. John's campus. The Provincial Government invested $900,000 for the development of this program as well as a joint diploma of technology/bachelor of technology in ocean instrumentation and a joint diploma of technology/bachelor of technology in underwater vehicles.

Students in this program will be trained in the operation of ocean mapping equipment, the procedures and methodologies for conducting an ocean-mapping survey and the analyzing and processing of the data. Graduates will be prepared for careers in government and institutional marine research, positions in hydrographic surveying, offshore mineral resources exploration industries and marine hardware and software development. The Marine Institute is the only college or university in Canada to offer a bachelor degree focused entirely on ocean mapping.

"We're able to map the near sub-seabed and the seabed itself in terms of topography, fine scale features and sediment type. We'll also be able to see schools of fish in the water column," Mr. Gillespie said. "This is a state-of-the-art multi-beam sonar system; you're going to see things on the seabed that people have never seen before. We are going to be gathering new information about the offshore resources in Newfoundland and Labrador waters."

"We are pleased that this new equipment will be a significant asset to the ocean-mapping program," said Minister King. "This program will provide students with an opportunity to foster long-term and meaningful careers in the ocean technology sector while at the same time supporting the needs of industry."

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