Marine Institute - Annual Review - 2008-2009

unlocking our

opportunity

Marine Institute Annual Review 2008-2009

ocean of

Message from the Executive Director 2

Message from the Marine Institute

Students’ Union 2

Message from the President 3

Helping Philippine Seafarers 4

New Possibilities for MI Students 6

Improving the Yellowtail Flounder Fishery 8

MV Anne S. Pierce to Map the Ocean 10

Increasing the Lobster Population 12

Northern Neighbours 14

Benchmarks 16

Planning for the Future 18

Celebrating Bartlett 2009 20

Our MissionTo foster economic development in strategic marine sectors of the Newfoundland and Labrador economy, particularly the fishery and offshore development, and to enable Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to participate in the marine industry nationally and internationally.

2 Marine Institute Annual Review 2008-2009

Message from the Executive DirectorGlenn Blackwood

We are pleased to present the 2008-09 Annual Review of the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland.

This year, we’ve chosen to give you an in-depth look into remarkable stories that capture the work of the Institute, our students and graduates, and our industry partners.

These stories speak not only to our diversity in education and research for the oceans industries but to our impact in communities around the province and around the world.

As an institute, we strive to unlock the ocean’s potential every day. We see the oceans as a means of transportation, a source of food, a resource to develop a local economy, an energy source, and a place of discovery. Of course, our graduates find rewarding careers in the oceans sectors and move our province and country forward in oceans development.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the ocean has given us endless opportunities. We look to it for our fisheries, aquaculture, coastal development, oil and gas, and marine transportation. It is our past, present, and our future.

The world is recognizing our leadership in the oceans sectors. We’re “lifting the lid off big blue” with our new ocean mapping and ROV capabilities and meeting increasing international demand for our ocean-related technologies. MI and Camosun College are working together to serve the training and research needs of the ocean technology sector in Canada - truly a “sea to sea” collaboration. And our Journal of Ocean Technology is quickly becoming the voice for the world’s oceans community.

While we work towards becoming a world oceans institute, the needs of the people of this province remain our priority. From our programs to our applied research and development focused on industrial solutions, the Marine Institute is committed to unlocking our ocean of opportunity here at home.

Thank you for your support once again in 2008-2009.

The Marine Institute comes second to none in every aspect, especially its students. With so much to offer, the Institute has a worldwide reputation for shaping its graduates as the next generation of leaders for the world oceans industries.

This year was no exception. Our students proved they are the best in their field in academic achievement, student and graduate employment, volunteerism, and community outreach. We’ve also helped welcome more students on campus as the Institute expands its scholarship program and offers new innovative programs for careers in the ever-growing oceans industries. Our goal is to help each new student connect to our closely-knit MarineInstitute community and provide a vibrant and supportive learning environment that fosters their success.

We are proud to represent this outstanding group of students and applaud them for their current success and future potential.

Message from the Marine Institute Students’ Union Jonathan Day, Acting President

Marine InstituteIndustry Advisory Board2008-2009 Capt. Sidney Hynes (Chair)Oceanex Inc.

Margaret AllanHusky Energy

Glenn Blackwood Fisheries andMarine Institute

Ross ButlerCooke Aquaculture

Alicia Campbell Marine InstituteStudents’ Union

Wayne Follett Marine Atlantic

Leonard PecoreGenoa DesignInternational Ltd.

Iris PettenOcean ChoiceInternational L.P.

Greg Pretty Fish, Food & AlliedWorkers Union

Alastair O’RiellyDepartment of Fisheries& Aquaculture

Captain Rick StrongSeamanning Services/Maersk

The past year has been a busy one for the Marine Institute, Memorial’s portal to the ocean. We demonstrate time and time again why we are the leading post secondary marine training institution in North America – there is simply no other place as good as our MI!

With so much accomplished, and so much on the horizon, the theme of your report this year, Unlocking our Ocean of Opportunity, is perfectly suited for a post secondary institution that is focused on becoming a world oceans institute.

Among many initiatives, this past year saw the development of new programs at the bachelor and master’s levels that will expand opportunities for people in marine and technology management and ocean mapping, and a continued rise in research and development activities.

The MI continues to attract students from across the country interested in exciting new programs such as remotely operated vehicle operations (ROV) and ocean instrumentation. And we continue to graduate the best students in Canada for the marine transportation, food, fisheries and oceans industries.

It all adds up to an institute that has a global view, but remains ever relevant to the needs of the people and the industry of this province. Memorial’s Marine Institute plays a key role in positioning Newfoundland and Labrador as a national and international leader in ocean technology.

Congratulations on another great year. As I step down as acting president, it is wonderful to know that Memorial’s Marine Institute is unlocking an ocean of opportunity for our students, for our province and for our world!

Message from the PresidentDr. Eddy Campbell


It is no secret the Marine Institute has been providing students from this province with everything they need to work in oceans industries for the past 45 years. MI is also working extensively with other countries around the world to build similar skills, regardless of how far away these nations are from the shores of Newfoundland and Labrador.

One of the Marine Institute’s most recent international initiatives is with seafarers from the Republic of the Philippines. This project aims to enhance the access to education for Filipino seafarers, enabling them to pursue officer-level positions on vessels around the globe.

“This will certainly help the economy in the Philippines,” said Marlene Power, international program officer at MI International. “They have people working all over the

world and sending their money back home. If they can earn better wages in officer-level jobs, it obviously puts more money into their country’s economy.”

Approximately 25 per cent of all seafarers in the global maritime industry are from the Philippines, however many of these people are in entry-level positions with little room for advancement or pay increases. Lack of relevant education is the main reason most of these workers are unable to progress in their fields. The implementation of MI’s new distance education program will help Filipino seafarers finally overcome this hurdle and eventually advance to officer-level positions on vessels close to home as well as abroad.

“It’s hard for people to pick up and move for schooling, especially when they have a family that depends on them

MI extends a helping hand to seafarers half a world away

Marine Institute Annual Review 2008-2009 5

for financial support. The aim of this project is to enable Filipinos to improve their education without having to move and to allow them to study online without having to leave their job, their home or their family. It allows them to study online whether they’re on a ship or at home,” Power said.

This project includes the development of distance education courses by the Marine Institute and the John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (JBLFMU) in the Philippines. Since May, professors from JBLFMU have been receiving support in online instruction so they can better teach their students the new distance education program.

“They’re currently participating in courses online so they can

understand the perspective of their students once they start to teach online,” said Power.

Eventually, these professors will assist other maritime higher education institutions in their country to build their capacity to implement similar programs. The project will also include seafarers and institutions from regions such as Mindanao and Visayas and it will provide additional opportunities to women and disadvantaged groups by supporting those institutions that are increasing participation of non-traditional and marginalized workers.

Funding for this project was provided by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), who awarded a $318,743 contract to MI International to work with the Government of Philippines through its Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

In a corner of the Marine Institute, a group of dedicated people are working to affect change – one country at a time.

In 25 years, MI International has completed more than 150 projects in over 50 countries and deployed over 140 MI faculty, staff and management to work on projects overseas.

“If you consider the depth and breadth of activity we do for our size, the Marine Institute is in the upper echelon of Canadian colleges in terms of international activity,” said Bill Chistlett, director of MI International.

In 2008, 43 MI personnel travelled to Africa, Asia and Latin America. In Cambodia, MI worked with partners to introduce fish into rice fields to reduce crop disease and increase rice yield. “When farmers sell the fish, they add 10-40 percent to their income,” said Chislett. “But they also benefit from having available animal protein to supplement their diet, especially in poor regions where protein intake is often very low.”

In Vietnam, MI International completed a $2.7 million bilateral project with SIAST and Agriteam to improve livelihoods training and systems development. The group consulted an Asian Development Bank project in Papua New Guinea on domestic waterway transportation, policy and institutional capacity enhancement. MI International is also helping to establish the new Botswana International University of Science and Technology.

As further testament to MI’s commitment to economic development, ACCC/CIDA seconded international project manager, Nigel Allen, to work in Tanzania for three years with local partners to design and implement CIDA’s $7 million Education for Employment program.

Unlocking a Country’s Potential


New programs create new possibilities for MI studentsThe Marine Institute is developing three new programs in an effort to help students reach their full potential in ocean industries that are already crying out for new blood.

The Master of Maritime Management, Master of Technology Management and Bachelor of Technology in Ocean Mapping programs will soon be available at the Marine Institute and all three are designed to get students into fields that need well educated and skilled workers.

“The addition of these programs solidifies MI’s position as a globally recognized leader in marine education and innovation and ensures the Marine Institute fulfills its promise to take students where they want to be,” said Glenn Blackwood, executive director, Marine Institute. “We continue to offer services and opportunities that benefit the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and the ocean technology companies that flock here to do business.”

The Master of Maritime Management program will offer marine professionals an opportunity to advance their careers by helping them develop tools to successfully manage complex marine operations. It will help them understand the structure and operation of marine-based organizations and the factors that influence the business decisions made by these companies.

“What’s great about the Master of Maritime Management is that it will be an online program that’s available to both full and part-time students. A full-time student can finish the program in one academic year,” said Blackwood. “Post-secondary education is constantly changing and the days of every single student spending all their time in the classroom are over. This program will be accessible to a wide variety of students who can study when and where they want.”

There will be heavy competition to get into the Master of Maritime Management and all applicants must have a Bachelor of Maritime Studies, Bachelor of Technology or other undergraduate degree with appropriate marine-

sector and business management courses.

Stiff competition is also expected in the Master of Technology Management, a program that will focus on strategic planning, decision making and technology management while closely examining the structure and operation of technology-based organizations. This program will also be offered online to full and part-time students and is designed to

help professionals climb the corporate ladder in their industries.

“Graduates from this program will be able to fully harness the power of their technology expertise and stand out as management candidates,” said Blackwood. “This program is a great way to take advantage of the opportunities the ocean sectors offer.”

Applicants will be required to have a Bachelor of Technology or other undergraduate degree with appropriate technology and business management courses to be accepted into this program. It can be completed in one academic year by a full-time scholar.

Both the Master of Maritime Management and Master of Technology Management are offered in collaboration with Memorial’s Faculty of Business Administration and applicants to both programs must meet the general admission requirements of Memorial’s School of Graduate Studies. A minimum of two years employment experience

The addition of these programs solidifies MI’s position as a

globally recognized leader in marine education and

innovation

• TheMarineInstituteandtheCanadianCouncil of Professional Fish Harvesters (CCPFH) are producing an e-simulator program to train fish harvesters in vessel stability. The $1.6 million project uses multi-media and electronic simulations of vessel operations to better train skippers and their crews in basic stability concepts. The e-simulator will be completed in two years and will be accessible to Canadian fish harvesters via DVD and free download from CCPFH’s website.

• Third-yearmarineengineeringstudent,Jennifer Styles, was honoured in February as one of the first ever recipients of an Oil and Gas Week scholarship, a new scholarship that supports career opportunities in the oil and gas industry.

• MIlaunchedanew$1,000entrancescholarship program for incoming diploma and advanced diploma students. The first scholarships will be awarded in September, 2009. Last year, MI also attracted nine new donors for scholarships.

• ThestrongdemandforMIstudentsandgraduates was evident at the 2009 Marine Institute Career Fair as 39 employers and industry representatives from across North America turned out for our largest career fair ever. MI graduates are sought for their outstanding reputation in professionalism, leadership and world-class education and training. • TheMarineInstituteisjoininguniversitiesinCanada, Ireland, the Netherlands and France to design and deliver training in Marine Crew Passenger Safety and Security through the M-CAPSS student exchange program. MI students in Food Technology and Food Safety can complete work placements or semesters of study at a partner institution in Ireland, England or Denmark through the Food Link program. Four MI students are in Cork, Ireland this summer on work terms with Irish companies. Eight Irish students have begun work placements with local companies in St. John’s.

Unlocking Opportunities for our Students

is normally required for admission into each of these programs.

The creation of the four-year Bachelor of Technology in Ocean Mapping program within MI’s School of Ocean Technology comes as a result of money allocated to MI in the Government of

Newfoundland and Labrador’s 2009 budget, which provided

an invested an additional $2.4 million for a multi-beam seabed mapping system and $575,000 for the development of the Bachelor of Technology in Ocean Mapping.

“This demonstrates our government’s support for the ocean technology sector and its support has allowed us to develop

programs that benefit students, communities

and businesses across the province,” said Blackwood.

The Master of Maritime Management and Master of Technology Management are both expected to be up and running in January 2010, while a start date has not yet been determined for the Bachelor of Technology in Ocean Mapping.


MI uses collaborative effort to help yellowtail flounder fishery

There are a lot of reasons to be excited about the Marine Institute’s research project involving the yellowtail flounder fishery.

For starters, there is the opportunity to help improve practices and procedures in an oceans sector that directly affects many workers in this province. There’s also the fact two different units of MI are working together on the project, not to mention the project marks the first time the Marine Institute has been successful in securing funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

“A lot of different people and groups are involved with this project,” said Ron Newhook, director of the Office

of Research and Development, Marine Institute. “It is an applied research project, but it has a curiosity driven approach to it as well.”

The Marine Institute’s industry partner on this project is Ocean Choice International (OCI), Atlantic Canada’s largest integrated seafood producer. The project, valued at $1.4 million, is a joint effort to advance the yellowtail flounder fishery in the province. With complementary funding from the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation, NSERC and OCI, the objective is to conduct extensive research into the operational efficiencies of this particular fishery, a project that looks into every detail of the industry, both in and out of the water.


Both the School of Fisheries and School of Ocean Technology of MI are heavily involved.

“We’re investigating ways to improve efficiencies onboard the boat and we’re going to be looking at alternative trawl designs and assessing onboard handling and holding practices,” said Dr. Paul Winger, director of MI’s Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research. “We will be exploring operational efficiencies, harvesting and processing with the School of Fisheries, while the work with the School of Ocean Technology is more about data management, working on where the fleets are going, environmental conditions, and collecting data to make better decisions. We’re unlocking capacity within MI by working together.”

The yellowtail flounder fishery faces a lot of challenges in this province. The centralization of seafood processing around the world – a lot of seafood is now sent to China to be processed – can make it difficult for Newfoundland companies to compete since they pay higher wages and have higher production costs than their Chinese counterparts. On top of that there’s the high cost of fuel and by-catch restrictions, as well as trying to ensure the ground fish make it to local fish plants in the best condition possible. Despite the obstacles, both the Marine Institute and OCI are confident the challenges can be overcome.

“This project is very important to OCI’s Marystown operations as well as our trawler fleet,” said Blaine Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer, OCI. “The overall objective of this research initiative is to analyze and explore ways to enhance the yellowtail fishery from harvest to market. We have collaborated with MI on several occasions in the past and look forward to the outcome of this project.”

MI’s immediate goals are to find operational inefficiencies and fix them, helping to make the yellowtail flounder fishery more competitive in the global market, according to Winger.

“It’s been a year of reflection, discussion, and discovery for MI’s Office of Research and Development,” says director Ron Newhook.

Newhook has been working with the Institute’s research centres and an advisory working group to form a long-term research and development strategy, build an inventory of MI’s capabilities and infrastructure and develop initiatives to attract projects and expertise.

Part of that work includes finding ways to increase student and faculty participation in leading-edge research and introducing an intellectual property policy.

“We’re examining mechanisms that will engage industry, students and faculty together in interesting and relevant research. We want to encourage a cross-fertilization of ideas and solutions where it can benefit everyone,” said Newhook.

Meantime, the office is pursuing funding opportunities for research from various sources including NSERC and AIF and supporting Marine Institute centres on such projects as evacuation safety for passenger ships, simulation training for the defense sector and employing expertise in energy efficiency for the fishing industry.

Unlocking our Research Capabilities


MI vessel key to future training and research

Randy Gillespie admits he can talk about the MV Anne S. Pierce all day long.

Gillespie, director of Applied Research at the Marine Institute’s School of Ocean Technology, loves to discuss MI’s research vessel and the opportunities it could create for students and industry. The Anne S. Pierce was purchased by the Marine Institute three years ago and is about to be upgraded to a state-of-the-art research and training vessel.

“It’s not a shiny new boat, but it is a valuable asset. It’s a very good vessel and it has lots of potential,” said Gillespie. “We have a very unique perspective of how we’re going to use it as a combined training and research vessel.”

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador allotted $1.4 million to the Marine Institute in Budget 2009 towards the purchase of multi-beam sonar mapping and ancillary equipment for the Anne S. Pierce. The vessel was equipped with similar gear in the 1990’s when it was used to map areas of the Scotian Shelf and Georges Bank. The funds provided by the Provincial Government will assist MI in refitting the vessel with the most up-to-date ocean mapping equipment, thereby transforming the Anne S. Pierce into a top-notch research and training tool.

“The Anne Pierce was instrumental in bringing multi-beam sonar into the mainstream,” said Gillespie. “We want to regain that past glory by taking the vessel and refitting it with the latest multi-beam sonar equipment and deploying


it as a training vessel that is also used to collect scientific data.”

Gillespie said having the Anne S. Pierce outfitted with the latest multi-beam sonar equipment will enable MI to conduct ocean mapping research that has never been done in this province. This research will play a big role in the future developments of our fisheries and offshore oil and gas resources, the development of coastal regions and the improved navigational safety for the marine transportation sector.

“While we’re training people, we’re also going to be mapping the ocean around Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Gillespie. “By combining training and data collection, we’re going to be building up rich data set that will conform with national and international standards, so at the end of the day we will have a valuable national asset to support sustainable development of our oceans and ocean resources.”

The fact the Anne Pierce will be used to collect data and train students at the same time makes it as unique as the Marine Institute, according to Gillespie.

“Not only are you training ship’s officers, engineers and deck hands, the people who are collecting the data also train on how to operate the ocean mapping equipment. Then once the data comes back into the lab, processing of the data has to be done, so students in that department also receive training,” he said. “There are few other institutions that do this type of simultaneous training. That’s pretty unique and builds our capacity and our people.”

• MI’sSmartBayprojecthasbecomeavital tool for shipping operations in Placentia Bay. Approximately 6,800 users per month visit the website, www.smartbay.com, to gather weather and sea-state data and forecasts from the SmartBay buoy network. Placentia Bay pilots use SmartBay to assist in the safe movement of oil tankers, and to decide whether the Bay should be closed to traffic based on weather and sea-state conditions. A study undertaken by ACOA to assess the effectiveness of SmartBay indicates 25 – 30 fewer transit delays for large vessels over the course of a 12-month period due to the presence of SmartBay.

• MIwillpositionanewmetoceanbuoyin Holyrood Bay to support applied research and product testing of new ocean technologies and instrumentation. AMEC Earth and Environment donated the buoy platform to MI in 2008.

• OceanInnovation2008attractedover190 delegates and exhibitors from Canada, the United States, Australia, Japan and Ireland to discuss the future of ocean observing systems. Ocean Innovation is the premier Canadian oceans conference centered on the latest innovations in maritime safety, efficiency of operations and sustainable ocean management. Ocean Innovation 2009 Greener Ships - Bluer Waters kicks off at Camosun College in Victoria, BC, Oct 20-22. The 2010 conference will return to St. John’s with a focus on underwater vehicles. www.oceaninnovation.ca

• TheMarineInstituterecentlysignedan agreement with ocean sensor manufacturers and others to form a new Smart Ocean Sensor Consortium. Members of the consortium will work towards global interoperability standards for “plug and play” ocean sensors.

Unlocking Access to Ocean Technology


The Marine Institute is helping to bring the Placentia Bay lobster population back to historic levels and is using a technique that has produced positive results in other regions to get the job done.

Together with the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) union, provincial fish harvesters, the provincial department of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the federal department of Fisheries and Oceans, MI is contributing to a lobster enhancement project in Placentia Bay that oversees the seeding of coastal waters with stage-four lobster larvae. It could take close to a decade to see the full impact of the

project, but based on the results of similar ventures in other parts of the country, all partners are confident this project will enhance the lobster stocks in Placentia Bay.

“If you can put a substantial amount of larvae out there, I think it can have a noticeable impact,” said Chris Dawe, aquaculture technologist with MI’s Centre for Aquaculture and Development.

The lobster enhancement project, which was born out of concerns raised by fish harvesters and led by the FFAW, involves collecting egg-bearing female lobsters from

MI helping to increase lobster population in Placentia Bay


Placentia Bay and placing them in a hatchery at the Marine Institute. The eggs spawn to larvae at MI and the larvae are

raised in a tank through stages one, two and three of their growth cycle before being released back into a suitable habitat in Placentia Bay when they reach stage four, at which time they are approximately 12 mm in length.

“This project takes some of the larvae, grows it to a stage when it can better survive the elements and predation and then releases it into the bay,” said David Decker, secretary treasurer, FFAW.

Stage four larvae actually look like miniature lobsters and have a much greater chance of reaching adulthood than stage one, two and three larvae. The adult female lobsters are also released back into Placentia Bay.

“Between stages one through three, the larvae are defenseless and are basically food for everything in the water. At stage four, that’s where they start settling into the bottom and start hiding from predators,” Dawe said.

Similar projects have also taken place in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and

Maine and the results indicate the Marine Institute, the FFAW and fish harvesters are on the right path toward restoring the lobster stocks of Placentia Bay.

“The hatchery located in Shippagan, New Brunswick has been at this since 2002 and last year they released 360,000 stage four lobster larvae. They’ve actually determined there is an increase in their juvenile lobster population,” said Dawe. “Down in Maine, they claim to have an eight per cent survival rate in their released larvae. Only one in 10,000 survive in nature, so to have an eight per cent success rate is pretty good.”

Decker says the fact these types of projects work in other regions is reason for optimism in Newfoundland and Labrador.

“Increased amounts of lobster larvae, whether it’s from v-notching, increased survival rates or lobster hatcheries, have shown to help stocks elsewhere in Atlantic Canada and in the USA. There is no reason why it can’t work here,” Decker explained.

Although many people assume this type of project is the first of its kind in our province, the truth is it has been attempted numerous times before, according to Dawe.

“A Norwegian scientist was brought to Dildo by the Newfoundland government in the 1800’s to start a hatchery and he produced millions of juvenile lobster and juvenile cod,” Dawe said. “That was the first attempt at enhancement in Newfoundland.”

Another encouraging aspect of the lobster-enhancing project is the technology and theory behind all the work could be applied to other sectors of the fishery in the future.

“There’s a lot of potential with this project. I think the enhancement can work for other species,” said Dawe. “One example is the northern pacific salmon fishery in BC and Alaska that’s heavily supported by hatcheries. The majority of their catches are not from natural reproduction, but from the hatcheries that are set up on all major rivers.”

Lobster larvae will be placed into Placentia Bay throughout the summer and into the early fall. A major objective of the project this year is tracking the success of the stocking, utilizing diver surveys and possibly genetic fingerprinting to do so. Future phases of the project continue to be investigated, including selecting a site for a commercial hatchery in Placentia Bay.


For the past 15 years the Marine Institute has been helping to train offshore fishery workers in Nunavut, a trend that shows no signs of slowing down. Together with its partners, MI is working to ensure the best possible training is delivered to the residents of the territory.

“We’ve been working closely with the Nunavut Fisheries Training Consortium (NFTC) and Nunavut Arctic College to recruit and train local residents for fisheries and marine career opportunities. In the last four years alone we’ve trained approximately 400 people,” said Gerald Anderson, manager, Marketing and Business Development, Marine Institute.

The Government of Nunavut was awarded offshore shrimp and turbot quotas as part of the land claims agreement in 1999. However, up until that point there was no history of offshore fishing for the people of the new territory, so Nunavut had to hire experienced fishing companies from the south to catch the allocated quotas. Included in the deals with these companies is a provision that each fishing

vessel fishing in Nunavut adjacent waters has to hire workers from the territory. Through the Nunavut Arctic College and the NFTC, the Marine Institute trains would-be workers for jobs on the offshore fishing vessels.

“Nunavut residents are trained to start at entry-level positions and the plan is they will eventually work up into higher positions,” said Anderson. “Eventually, we want to see them move into senior officer positions such as captain and chief engineer.”

MI provides instructors and expertise in the delivery of fisheries training courses in communities throughout Nunavut. Since 2007, MI has delivered more than 15 courses across the territory, including Marine Basic First Aid, Marine Emergency Duties, Marine Diesel Mechanic, Fisheries Observers and Radio Operator’s Certification.

The biggest challenge faced so far is the fact offshore fishing is still relatively new to the people of the north.

MI shares its experience and expertise with northern neighbours


• MIworkswiththeNunavutFisheriesTraining Consortium and the Nunavut Arctic College to provide instructors and expertise in fisheries training courses for communities throughout Nunavut. Over 500 fish harvesters have been trained for Nunavut’s offshore shrimp and turbot fishery in the last five years.

• In2008,theMarineInstitutewelcomeditsfirst Nunavut graduates in its At Sea Fishery Observer program and delivered the new Small Vessel Operator Proficiency program in communities throughout the region.

• Since2007,theInstitutehasdeliveredmore than 15 different courses in Iqaluit, Pangnirtung, Gjoa Haven, Rankin Inlet, Qikiqtarjuaq, Arviat, and Cambridge Bay.

• ThreestudentsfromNunavutArcticCollege are currently enrolled in MI’s Marine Diesel Mechanic program. The students began their program in Nunavut and recently transferred to the MI campus to complete their studies.

• MIdeliversfirefightingtrainingandSmallVessel Operator Proficiency for SERCO, the provider for operations and maintenance services at Canadian Forces Base 5 Wing Goose Bay.

• Severalfisheries-relatedresearchand development projects and technology transfer activities have been conducted including fisheries resource assessments in Pangnirtung, Clyde River and Pond Inlet.

• InconjunctionwithLloyd’sListevents,theCentre for Marine Simulation will host the 2nd Annual Arctic Shipping North America Conference in St. John’s, Oct 6-7, 2009 focusing on current and future projects in the Arctic region.

Unlocking the North“We’re trying to get them accustomed to the industry,” said Mike Walsh, a project officer with NFTC who recently completed the Master of Marine Studies (Fisheries Resource Management) program at MI. “Some people go offshore and decide they really like the work, but for some others after a couple of weeks offshore they know they want to go back to the inshore fishery.”

Walsh adds the lifestyle of working in the offshore fishery – leaving home for six weeks at a time to go fishing – is not something to which the people of Nunavut are accustomed.

“The Inuit are very family-oriented people, so it’s difficult to be away from home for six weeks or more,” said Walsh. “Going 200 miles offshore to fish is not something they are used to. But for those who enjoy it and stick with it, it’s an opportunity to make good wages and have steady, full-time work.”

Walsh has been working with the NFTC for more than two years and says it is clear to him that offshore fishing is catching on with the people of Nunavut, despite some early challenges. In time, he can see this industry becoming a part of people’s everyday lives up north.

“I can see now when the guys return home from the vessels, they’re proud of their boat and proud of their work. They are working hard to advance their new careers,” said Walsh.

MI’s long-term goal is to continue sharing its fishery experience and expertise with the NFTC and Nunavut Arctic College and to build capacity for marine and fisheries program delivery at the college.

“Our objective is to provide the best possible fisheries and marine training for residents of Nunavut and to build capacity at Nunavut Arctic College,” said Anderson. “In the long-term I see the college taking responsibility for entry-level training and the Marine Institute more involved in high level training programs and providing opportunities in research and development.”


BenchmarksMarine Institute Employees

as of March 31, 2009

Total: 367 employees

Gross Revenue by SourceFiscal Year 2008/09 (Preliminary)

Gross Revenue Total: $35,078,000

The Marine Institute is preparing to say goodbye to a long-time employee who is respected, revered and extremely well liked by his colleagues both at MI and in the �shery and marine industries. David Bonnell, the Marine Institute’s head of the School of Fisheries, of�cially retires on June 26 after 29 years of employment at MI.

“I will miss the great people I work with at MI as well as the work itself,” said Bonnell. “It is a dynamic institution.”

Since beginning at MI in September, 1980, Bonnell has served as an instructor, chair of new programs, deputy head of the School of Fisheries, director of �sheries and community based programs and most recently, head of the School of Fisheries. Upon retirement, Bonnell will continue to be a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Fish Processing Licensing Board and the Torngat Joint Fisheries Board, staying in touch with the industry he has worked so hard to help for 29 years.

However, don’t think for a second Bonnell isn’t going to take more time for himself and his family now that he’s retired.

“My wife, Judy, and I are looking forward to spending more time with the grandchildren,” Bonnell said. “I’m also looking forward to having more time for golf and woodworking.”

Enrolment by Academic Year

Total Revenue by Fiscal Year

Goodbye to a Key Player


While the Marine Institute achieved many of the goals set out in the first stage of Vision 2020, executive director Glenn Blackwood believes it is only the first stage of a voyage.

Presented in 2005, Vision 2020 established a strategic framework for redefining the Institute’s future as an educational, applied research and economic driver in the world oceans industries. The vision outlined an ambitious, but clearly defined plan to shape the Marine Institute as a world oceans institute – setting the standard for education, training, innovation and research.

“We made Vision 2020 a top priority for the Marine Institute,” said Blackwood. “The ocean sector demanded we position ourselves, now and in the years ahead, to respond to the technology advances and opportunities that lie ahead for our students and industry clients.”

As Blackwood points out, many key initiatives have been achieved. The institute re-structured to include a new research and development office and a department dedicated to student affairs and services. It delivered a new School of Ocean Technology, offering new programs in ROV and ocean instrumentation for the emerging ocean sectors. It strengthened its relationships with other global ocean institutes and developed proposals to expand its campus infrastructure in Stephenville, Holyrood, Foxtrap and St. John’s.

“We’ve made tremendous strides in a short period of time and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished,” said Blackwood. “But it’s just the first step in getting where we want to be in 2020.”

“To continue that momentum, we have to constantly look at how the global oceans economy is evolving. Are the training or research opportunities we saw five years ago

still relevant? We need to ensure we correctly position our expertise and resources so that our students and clients reap the benefits,” explains Blackwood.

Blackwood has established a Strategic Planning Committee to oversee an organizational wide planning process and guide the institute through the next stages

Vision 2020: Planning for the Future


Looking Ahead• In 2008, the Marine Institute was able to begin development of a new marine base in Holyrood with the help of a contribution of more than $1 million from the Federal Government through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). In Budget 2009, the Provincial Government also invested $315,000 in the base to meet the emerging needs of the ocean technology, marine and related industries. The base will be a world-class research, education and interpretation facility focused on the study of ocean technology, fisheries, marine environment, marine ecotourism, diving and oil spill response.

• Fuelled by the desire to make a real change, students and employees are collaborating to improve environmental stewardship on our campuses. The Marine Institute Sustainability Committee formed this year to initiate sustainable programs such as using biodegradable paper products in the cafeteria, a “paperless pay stub” campaign and improved energy efficiencies within campus buildings. MI currently recycles paper and cardboard and donates funds from its beverage container recycling to the MUN Campus Food Bank.

• In March, MI unveiled the first phase of its newly redesigned website. In addition to highlighting news, featured stories and events, the home page connects students, alumni, and industry clients to academic programs, specialized centres, and departments. Users can also connect to MI through Facebook, Twitter, RSS feeds and a new MI YouTube channel where the institute rolled out its new promotional videos. In the coming months, the Institute will launch its new recruitment portal – www.whereyouwanttobe.com – for high school, transfer, mature, returning, graduate, and international students, as well as parents, teachers and guidance counsellors.

of Vision 2020. The 12-member committee will review and revise the Vision 2020 strategic plan and present an

implementation plan for 2009-2012.

Five sub-committees will review specific sections of the strategic plan and develop initiatives relating to students, programs, research, needs of the province/outreach and conditions for success. Their goal is to ensure that the plan reflects current realities, which have changed significantly since Vision 2020 was developed.

Simultaneously, each of the Institute’s schools and units will use their annual planning retreats to focus on visualizing how their school/unit will look in 2020 and developing initiatives to be included in the 2009-2012 implementation

plan related to their specific operations.

“We have to ensure our people and our activities remain focused on the needs and demands of our students and industry today, three years from now or a decade from now,” stressed Blackwood. “That’s our foundation for becoming a world oceans institute.”


Experience the Peary Polar Voyage simulation this summer during Celebrating Bartlett 2009. The Marine Institute’s Centre for Marine Simulation will offer a simulation of two sections of Captain Bob Bartlett’s historic 1909 polar expedition voyage in the Roosevelt, the trip in which Bartlett carried American explorer Robert Peary to within 150 miles of the North Pole.

Tours are open to the public, free of charge, from July 7 – Aug. 6 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 - 2 p.m. The simulation will allow people to “virtually” sail to the Arctic, including the sensations of hitting and manoeuvering over the ice.

To reserve your tour, visit www.mi.mun.ca/bartlett

Take the Helm with Captain Bob Bartlett

Table of contents map extracted from the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) at www.gebco.net.Lobster photos courtesy of Ryan Murphy.

Fisheries and Marine Institute ofMemorial University of Newfoundland

P.O. Box 4920, St. John’sNewfoundland and Labrador

Canada A1C 5R3

Tel: 709-778-0200Toll Free: 1-800-563-5799, Ext. 200

Fax: 709-778-0672

[email protected]

066-253-06-09-1,500

Marine Institute - Annual Review - 2008-2009

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Transcript of Marine Institute - Annual Review - 2008-2009