Underwater noise pollution is an increasingly critical issue, impacting marine life, ecosystem health, and industry operations. This session will explore the latest advancements in underwater noise monitoring, the role of passive acoustic technology, and how real-time insights can support decision-making offshore.

Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how acoustic data is collected, analyzed, and used to inform environmental regulations and conservation efforts. The session will also highlight emerging innovations in autonomous platforms and AI-driven analysis that are improving our ability to detect, interpret, and mitigate noise impacts. Whether you're in marine science, industry, or policy, this discussion will provide valuable insights into how acoustic monitoring is shaping the future of ocean sustainability.

The story of Iceland’s ocean technology industry – like most of Iceland’s economy – is at its core about the ingenuity required to make the most of every resource on land, underground, and in our territorial waters. But Iceland has not always done so to the extent we do today. Critical to achievements such as 80% utilization of each whitefish harvested from our seas has been the growth in recent decades of Icelandic ocean technology companies specializing in areas ranging from fish processing to biotechnology. Icelandic entrepreneurs in other segments of our maritime industry have used that same type of ingenuity to create world class marine transportation technologies, sustainable and profitable land-based aquaculture facilities, and new means of harvesting resources with less impact on the marine environment. This session will share that story while also highlighting opportunities for closer collaboration between Icelandic and Canadian ocean technology companies.

This presentation highlights Hexsor’s collaboration with Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) and Nova Scotia’s wastewater treatment plant to advance real-time water quality monitoring. Through this partnership, we deployed the Mobile Lab GO-800P to perform on-site analysis of hydrocarbons in treated effluent. By leveraging spectroscopy-based detection, the technology enables rapid and precise identification of contaminants, significantly enhancing monitoring efficiency. This real-time capability helps detect and mitigate potential pollutants before they reach marine ecosystems, supporting environmental protection efforts. Additionally, the system aids in ensuring regulatory compliance by providing accurate, actionable data for wastewater treatment facilities. The project demonstrates how innovative, field-deployable technologies can streamline water quality assessments, reduce laboratory turnaround times, and promote sustainable water management practices. Ultimately, this collaboration contributes to safeguarding ocean health by preventing harmful contaminants from entering sensitive aquatic environments, reinforcing Hexsor’s commitment to technological innovation and environmental stewardship.

The future of maritime operations is shifting toward autonomy, efficiency, and sustainability. This presentation introduces the MASS Operations Center (MOC)—a pioneering hub integrating real-time remote monitoring, AI-driven analytics, and autonomous decision-making. By leveraging MASS-WILL, MASS-PLATFORM, MASS-LABS, and MASS-AUTO, we enable ship operators, port authorities, and marine technology providers to optimize performance, reduce fuel consumption, and enhance safety. This session will explore collaboration opportunities, pilot trials, and the role of AI in maritime digitalization, shaping a smarter, more resilient shipping ecosystem.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is increasingly being used in biodiversity monitoring, conservation, and invasive-species detection. Automated eDNA sampling extends the scope of eDNA surveys into areas that are impractical due to remoteness or safety concerns. The Dartmouth Ocean Technologies, Inc. (DOT) sampler is designed for long-term deployments, with timed collection and preservation of samples prior to retrieval. We tested the DOT sampler in freshwater and marine habitats, including a sewage outflow in Halifax Harbour after a major rain event in July 2023. Using a range of genetic markers, we found that fecal-associated bacteria were extremely rare in the marine environments and absent from our freshwater samples, and demonstrated the ability to detect invasive species such as tunicates. We also preserved environmental RNA, a critical but unstable indicator of the most-active species in a given environment, for over a year, demonstrating the suitability of the DOT sampler for long-term deployment and preservation.

Currently there are a variety of sensors on the market that are used for obstacle avoidance in various autonomous systems. However autonomous surface vehicles pose a unique challenge due to the marine environment. This presentation explores the navigation and obstacle avoidance problems faced by ASVs and provides an overview of the latest technologies and strategies currently used.

The intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and the ocean industry represents a frontier of innovation with profound implications for marine exploration, conservation, and sustainable resource management. This proposed panel will delve into a diverse array of applied industry partnered research showcasing the transformative potential of AI in addressing the challenges and opportunities within the ocean sector in Atlantic Canada. Hosted by the DeepSense/COVE Digital Ocean Research Chair, the panel will include a diverse set of panelists from local startups, SMEs, academia, or other organizations involved in applied ocean AI research, development and deployment.

The Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction and Response Network (MEOPAR) and the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) invite delegates to share their insights on the needs, pressures, and priorities driving ocean research in Canada, to inform a new initiative by MEOPAR and CCA on shaping a collaborative future for ocean research in Canada.

Discussions here will help shape the direction for an independent assessment led by the CCA, to launch in late 2025. The resulting assessment report will provide actionable insights to guide decision-making and investment across sectors, research institutions, and at all levels of government.

More on the project can be found here.

e-BO Enterprises highlights the challenges of modern wind farms, maritime security and cybersecurity, all require navigating complex environments with high stakes and constant evolution. By adopting a solid digital integration, organizations can craft security strategies that are effective, resilient and adaptive. In today’s digital battlespace, success depends on preparation, collaboration, and execution. Welcome to explore the digital solutions of tomorrow to secure unmanned mission critical infrastructure.

How can your company accelerate innovation? This panel brings together experts from Nova Scotia Community College’s SEATAC, Applied Research and Entrepreneurship, and Dalhousie’s Emera ideaHUB to explore how their specialized research facilities, technical expertise, funding and programs support rapid prototyping. These resources help companies refine and test new technologies on the path to commercialization.

Panelists will share real-world examples of collaboration, highlighting how their organizations work together to provide critical resources. Join us to discover how these supports are driving growth in the ocean sector and how you can engage with them at the right time in your development journey.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, driving innovation, and transforming how technology integrates into daily life. This session provides a foundational introduction to AI, exploring its core principles, key applications, and real-world impact. With a focus on the ocean sector, attendees will explore AI’s role in marine research, ocean conservation, and maritime industries through cutting-edge case studies. This session will break down complex concepts into clear, accessible insights, highlighting AI’s potential and growing relevance in the rapidly evolving blue economy.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are transforming how we understand and interact with the ocean. In this session, Iaian Archibald, Executive Director of DeepSense, will explore a series of real-world DeepSense projects that demonstrate AI’s impact across the marine sector. From mapping marine debris using drone-based models to electrifying commercial vessels to automating fish population monitoring, these case studies highlight how AI-driven solutions are improving efficiency, sustainability, and innovation. Attendees will gain insight into how businesses and researchers are applying cutting-edge technology to tackle key challenges in ocean industries.

Based in Aberdeen, United Kingdom, Verlume is the world leader in subsea power systems. This presentation will cover a novel approach to subsea power delivery, focusing on Verlume’s Charge technology. Charge is a seabed-based, rechargeable pressure encapsulated battery unit capable of delivering dependable, safe power across the offshore environment. The battery system is delivered in 35 kWh or 55 kWh building blocks, modifiable to an extended pipe size and configured to 24V or 48V DC output. The system is placed on the seabed or directly integrated within existing infrastructure, according to the application. Charge has demonstrated impact, previously being deployed as part of a world-first project in subsea power delivery offshore Canada. In addition, Charge has provided power for environmental monitoring applications in recent deployments. This versatile technology has many potential applications, and the presentation will also cover further use cases that are being explored.

Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) encompasses a range of emerging strategies that enhance the ocean's natural capacity to sequester carbon. This session will highlight two of COVE’s current projects that explore both ecological and technological approaches to mCDR. The first investigates eelgrass meadows in Nova Scotia as natural carbon sinks, assessing innovative monitoring methods and their potential to inform coastal management and economic benefit frameworks. The second project discusses an AI-augmented platform for satellite-based monitoring of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), developed in partnership with DeepSense, to generate data-driven insights to enhance MPA Management. Improving management effectiveness of ecologically significant areas though this platform, can strengthen ecosystem resilience and support long-term natural carbon storage.

Traditional marine biological monitoring methods such as trawling are highly invasive and rely upon removing animals from the environment to assess population status, traits, and habitats. While providing a single method and yielding biological collections, these monitoring techniques are not always compatible with the sampling restrictions within sensitive regions and marine conserved areas. To address this gap, marine monitoring programs increasingly rely on multiple, minimally invasive and non-extractive technologies to assess the status of populations, habitats, and ecosystems. One of these technologies is the Baited Remote Underwater Video, which allows for mobile fauna to be accounted for without extractive monitoring. This session will focus on the challenges of deep-sea camera work, as well as some of the results from several of the protected areas.

Planetary is a global leader in coastal carbon dioxide removal (CDR). Since 2023, Planetary has partnered with Dalhousie University and other local and international organizations to turn Halifax into a global hub for Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement projects and research. To-date, over 1000 tonnes of CO₂ have been removed through pilot projects at the Nova Scotia Power Tufts Cove Generation Plant. Now, Planetary plans to remove over 10,000 tonnes by the end of 2025. This presentation will outline Planetary’s Halifax project, and the process by which ocean chemistry and physics are leveraged to simultaneously store atmospheric CO₂ in the ocean for millennia, and restore ocean health. Details on the novel ocean sensing and monitoring technologies, research outcomes and community work emerging from this exciting project will be shared.