Kendra MacDonald
CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
By focusing on innovation and commercialization, Canada has an opportunity to become a global leader in the Blue Food economy.
As global demand for protein rises, blue food, including wild capture, aquaculture, and emerging sub-sectors, is uniquely positioned to become one of the world’s most important food sources. For Canada, Blue Food represents a powerful opportunity for economic growth, rural development, and long-term food security.
Countries like Norway have demonstrated how innovation-driven aquaculture can transform a national economy. Canada now faces a similar moment: how to scale sustainable practices and unlock the full potential of its ocean resources. This includes growing prosperity for coastal and Indigenous communities that would benefit from seafood market growth.
Canadian ocean startups and innovators are already reshaping this landscape. From advanced sensors and AI-driven monitoring to sustainable feed alternatives, technology is enabling producers to optimize operations, reduce environmental impact, improve traceability and transparency, and strengthen resilience in the face of climate change. At the same time, they’re actively enhancing Canada’s global export competitiveness.
Accelerating innovation and commercialization
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) is playing a central role in scaling these technologies and supporting the future of Blue Food. With more than 50 projects focused on innovative solutions in aquaculture and wild capture fisheries with a total of $110 million invested, OSC is accelerating the commercialization of solutions that make Blue Food more productive, more sustainable, and more globally competitive, while sustaining food security in Canada.
To fully seize this opportunity, Canada must focus on innovation, commercialization, and the evolution of both aquaculture and wild capture fisheries.
To learn more about Blue Food and the Blue Bioeconomy, visit Blue Bioeconomy – Canada’s Ocean Supercluster.
