Safe and Sustainable Development of the Ocean Frontier

Explore the safe and sustainable development of the ocean frontier
This is active first level H2

At the frontier of ocean research

Research objectives

Through the CFREF Safe and Sustainable Development of the Ocean Frontier program, OFI-sponsored research explores the ecosystems of the North Atlantic and Canadian Arctic Gateway to discover innovative solutions that strengthen the economy and protect the environment.

Improving our understanding of changes in ocean ecosystems and atmosphere-ocean interactions
Developing solutions for marine safety, ocean data, and ocean-related technologies
Developing sustainable fishing and aquaculture practices

Meet the team

Learn more about some of the scholars behind the SSDOF research program.

Outcomes

200+
Researchers
24
Large Research Projects
7
Opportunities Fund projects
112
Seed Fund projects
37
International Postdoctoral Fellowships
42
Visiting Fellows
Cumulative total as of 2024-2025 reporting year

Total funding

$208 M
Total cash and in-kind value of the program
$93.7 M
Grant from the Government of Canada
$44.4 M
From institutional partners cash and in-kind investments
$69.8 M
From private and public sector collaborators cash and in-kind investments
This research was undertaken thanks in part to funding from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund for the Transforming Climate Action research program, led by Dalhousie University through the Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI), in partnership with Memorial University (co-founder of OFI), Université du Québec à Rimouski and Université Laval.
Canada First Research Excellence Fund

Benefits to Canada

A key objective of the SSDOF program is to provide long-term benefits to Canada through the program’s research outputs, including:

  • Managing human activities as they relate to ocean resources
  • Strengthening marine safety
  • Making marine conservation measures more resilient to climate change
  • Improving the potential for fisheries and aquaculture industries to meet global seafood demand in a sustainable manner
  • Transforming how we model the ocean with new data capture and information technology tools

Research projects

Large research projects are focused on understanding key aspects of ocean and ecosystem change and developing strategic and effective solutions that can be applied both locally and globally.

Sustainable Bioresources

Safe Navigation & Environmental Protection
Aldo Chircop, Ronald Pelot, Floris Goerlandt, Claudio Aporta
Sustainable Capture Fisheries & Their Ecosystems
Noel Cadigan, Paul Winger, Jonathan Fisher
Sustainable Nunatsiavut Futures
Eric Oliver, Amanda Bates, Rodd Laing

Protecting Biodiversity

Ecosystem Indicators for a Changing Ocean
Paul Snelgrove, Megan Bailey
One Ocean Health
Mark Fast, Stefanie Colombo
Spatial Dynamics of Valued Atlantic Groundfish
Sara Iverson, Aaron MacNeil, Jonathan Fisher

Achieving Net Zero

Partners

The Canada First Research Excellence Fund is providing $93.7 million for the program, along with an additional $126.4 million in partner contributions for a total value of $220 million.

Led by

Dalhousie University

Institutional partners

Memorial University of NewfoundlandUniversity of Prince Edward Island

Partnership network

GEOMARDRDCOcean SonicsEnvironmental Fluid DynamicsClearwaterOn the move partnershipsOcean Choice InternationalTorngat Wildlife Plants & Fisheries SecretariatTBTI GlobalInnovaseaIMBeROcean School

Team

Drawing on extensive backgrounds and experience, our team is working to harness the vast potential of the world’s ocean in a safe and sustainable manner.

Executive council

OFI Logo Mark
Graham Gagnon
(Chair)
Vice President, Research and Innovation (acting)
Dalhousie University
Tana Allen
Tana Allen
Vice President, Research
Memorial University
Dr. Erin Bertrand
Dr. Erin Bertrand
Acting CEO and Scientific Director
Ocean Frontier Institute
Paul Snelgrove
Paul Snelgrove
Associate Scientific Director
Memorial University
Chuck Macdonald
Chuck Macdonald
Dean of Science
Dalhousie University
Paul Brett
Paul Brett
Vice-President (pro tempore), Fisheries and Marine Institute
Memorial University
John Newhook
John Newhook
Dean of Engineering
Dalhousie University
Travis Fridgen
Travis Fridgen
Interim Dean of Science
Memorial University
Gitta Kulczycki
Gitta Kulczycki
Vice-President Finance and Administration
Dalhousie University

Management committee

Shelley Brown
Shelley Brown
Director, Strategic Initiatives and Programs, Office of Research Services
Dalhousie University
Jonathan Fisher
Jonathan Fisher
Research Scientist, Marine Institute
Memorial University
Maria Steele
Maria Steele
Manager of Research Services
University of Prince Edward Island
Dr. Erin Bertrand
Dr. Erin Bertrand
Acting CEO and Scientific Director
Ocean Frontier Institute
Jaclyn Pitman
Jaclyn Pitman
Operations Manager
Memorial University
OFI logo mark

Bringing together researchers, industry and government to solve complex ocean challenges

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Dalhousie University operates in the unceded territories of the Mi’kmaw, Wolastoqey, and Peskotomuhkati Peoples. These sovereign nations hold inherent rights as the original peoples of these lands, and we each carry collective obligations under the Peace and Friendship Treaties. Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 recognizes and affirms Aboriginal and Treaty rights in Canada.

We acknowledge that the lands on which Memorial University’s campuses are situated are in the traditional territories of diverse Indigenous groups, and we acknowledge with respect the diverse histories and cultures of the Beothuk, Mi’kmaq, Innu, and Inuit of this province.