Applied aquaculture and marine restoration research and innovation in collaboration with communities and partners across Vancouver Island and the B.C. Coast.
The Seaweed Innovation Lab (SIL) is part of the Centre for Applied Research, Technology, and Innovation (CARTI) at North Island College. The lab is a dynamic center of applied research and technical expertise, supporting the growth of sustainable aquaculture and the emerging seaweed sector in B.C. Strategically located in the Northern region of Vancouver Island, the facility offers a combination of academic resources, industry knowledge, and essential infrastructure.
The team includes skilled aquaculture and seaweed researchers with strong regional experience, supported by student researchers and an experienced management team. The lab is equipped with advanced seaweed nursery systems and controlled tank environments that provide the foundation for cultivation experiments, biodiversity initiatives, and new technologies. It offers a variety of equipment to allow for seaweed processing trials and the space to adapt systems to meet the dynamic needs of their partners.
The Seaweed Innovation Lab is a hub for a wide range of coastal innovation and supports ecosystems, communities, and a resilient blue economy in the region. The lab’s research space and facilities are a multi-use offering an applied research lab with innovative housing technology and the foundational features of an aquaculture research space of 177 m2 (1910 ft2).
- Grant seeking and writing
- Student researcher hiring
- Provide access to software, specialized equipment and other research tools
- Communication of applied research and innovation activities
- Host applied research and innovation activities
- Research data management strategy
- Kelp and habitat surveys (drone and on the water)
- Food processing equipment rentals
- Recipe, product and service development
- Processing optimization
- Kelp seed production
- Remote field work
- Aquaculture license application support
- Seaweed harvesting
- Seaweed hatchery design and installation
- Seaweed farm design and installation
- Nutritional profiles and extraction
- Biobanking for commercial and restoration purposes
- Fertilizer research
- Agriculture, animal science and food
- Education
- Fisheries and aquaculture
- Management and business related services
- Ocean industries
Specialized labs and equipment
| Equipment | Function |
|---|---|
| Industrial Plankton Seaweed Bioreactors (16) | Modular seaweed seed systems with independent pH and temperature-controlled enclosures for culturing seaweed. |
| Tuttnauer Autoclaves (2) | For processes using high pressures and temperatures, e.g., steam sterilization. |
| Fisher Scientific Biomedical Refrigerator | Refrigeration with high performance on key metrics like temperature fluctuations and consistency. |
| Recirculating aquarium systems (5) | Consisting of various configurations of aquaria tanks (16 x 75 L), AquaLogic chillers (5), grow lights (10), pumps (5), and plumbing equipment. |
| Aquaria tanks (12) | Capacity of 150 L. |
| UV water system filter | Essential water quality control for aquatic systems. |
| Open-top poly aquaculture tanks (20) | Round and rectangular tanks with capacities ranging from 90 to 1800 L. |
| Mavic Multispectral Drones (3) | Conduct aerial surveys and collect high-resolution imagery. |
| YSI Multiparameter Water Quality Meters (2) | Drones to measure multiple water quality parameters (i.e., pH, temperature, salinity). |
| LW Scientific Innovation Infinity BioVIEW Trinocular Digital Microscope | An optical microscope connected to a camera to display the image output on a screen and/or monitor. |
| Kelp nursery spooling device | Automate the process of wrapping nursery spools in twine for out-planting to the ocean. |
| Seaweed cutting machine | Industrial slicing machine designed for seaweed processing use. |
| Excalibur Commercial Food Dehydrator | Full body interior and exterior stainless steel featuring 42 stainless trays with BPA free mesh screens, 136 square feet of drying space with a 99 hour digital timer and adjustable fan delay. |
| VacMaster VP320 Counter Top Commercial Chamber Vacuum Sealer | Ability to program 10 unique vacuum and seal time cycles for different products and bag types. |
Additional information
| Title | Hyperlink |
|---|---|
| Centre for Applied Research, Technology and Innovation (CARTI) | https://www.nic.bc.ca/about/research/index.html |