SOAR is working to advance applied marine research with focus on clean renewable energy and healthy food supplies. This includes advancing innovations in fishing, tidal energy, and aquaculture.

SOAR currently has federal funding through Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and Nova Scotia provincial funding through Offshore Energy Association of Nova Scotia (OERA), with a collective focus on advancing our understanding of interactions between tidal turbines and marine animals, working with remote and coastal communities to evaluate potential for tidal energy developments, and characterizing turbulent tidal flows.

Please check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for regular updates on our active projects. Links are at the bottom of this page!

These video shows a) data collection during the OERA pathway project, where research vessel Grand Adventure was anchored in Grand Passage to test multibeam imaging sonars, and b) active monitring of the SME PLAT-I tidal power system with the ARIS 3000

SOAR helped establish Sustainable Marine Energy Ltd. in Grand Passage for testing of their 280 kW PLAT-I tidal power system. The presence of PLAT-I at our home waterway has enabled several past and ongoing research projects.

The Marine Observer Program for Grand Passage - PLAT-I Deployment focused on capacity-building for stakeholder involvement in monitoring potential interactions between tidal turbines and marine animals. An overarching objective is to assist with development of Best Practices for environmental monitoring of tidal energy developments.

A Marine Animal Identification and Observation Guide was developed to increase the accuracy of marine animal observations, and also to stimulate further interest regarding the large variety and high abundance of marine animals in the Outer Bay of Fundy region.

SOAR also held a Marine Animal Observer training course and conducted dedicated observations of marine animals in Grand Passage while Sustainable Marine Energy’s PLAT-I tidal power system was operating.

Please see the Ocean Education section of our website for more information on the guide!