Port Alberni, B.C. — Imagine an applied research centre that attracts world experts and enables Canada to be a global leader in the Blue Economy. That’s what advocates at the City of Port Alberni are aiming for as they conduct a pre-feasibility study for a Canadian Centre for Seaweed Research (CCSR) in conjunction with industry leaders and funding partners at Cascadia Seaweed.

Cultivating seaweed off Canadian coastlines requires innovation in science and engineering for seed production, farm design, harvesting and transportation, and product processing across the many market verticals (human food, livestock feed, pharmaceuticals, biopackaging, cosmetics, fabric, and more). 

Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions notes “Council’s Strategic Plan sees us enabling the new economy and championing environmental leadership. The Blue Economy in general and seaweed in particular have all the right attributes for us to be investing in to realize that vision. We are thrilled to be partnering with Cascadia Seaweed in this initiative and to have secured Dr. Colin Bates and Savanna Young to do the research".

“British Columbia and Canada have an opportunity to take the lead on this very exciting new ocean industry in North America.” says Bill Collins, Chairman of Cascadia Seaweed.

The partners decided the seaweed industry is deserving of an independent facility based on its potential and were inspired, in part, by the United Nations Global Compact issuing of a ‘Seaweed Manifesto’ last year which concluded “seaweed has the potential to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges”. 

"British Columbia is a global hotspot for seaweed biodiversity and productivity, yet our seaweed-based industries are in their infancy. The Canadian Centre for Seaweed Research is a necessary step towards realizing British Columbia and Canada as a major player in applied seaweed science and technology," says Dr. Colin Bates, Seaweed Researcher and CCSR Project Lead. 

“As seaweed grows it sequesters carbon, uptakes excess nutrients, mitigates ocean acidification and creates habitat. The greater the biomass, the better the outcome,” says Dr. Jennifer Clark, Head Science Officer for Cascadia Seaweed. She notes that the potential for discovery of new bio-active compounds in native seaweeds and an ability to successfully bring them to market is predicated on world-class science and technology.  Clark and her colleagues at Cascadia along with their indigenous partners believe that many jobs could be created by this climate-positive sector in British Columbia alone, with the majority of wealth being retained in and among coastal communities.

“Being just sustainable is not enough anymore, industry needs to be climate positive,” says Collins.

The pre-feasibility study is expected to be completed by mid-August 2021.  Pat Deakin, Economic Development Manager for the City of Port Alberni, comments “the early indications are that Port Alberni will also be assisting the industry by establishing a processing centre here”.