SHANGHAI, CHINA - British Columbia companies and organizations at the forefront of ocean-observing technology are making new connections in China as part of a 12-day trade mission.

The mission, supported by British Columbia's Ministry of International Trade and the Ocean Networks Canada Innovation Centre (ONCIC), kicks off today at Oceanology International China. The conference and trade show allows industry, academia and government to share knowledge and connect with the marine technology and science community.

This is the first time the influential Oceanology International show will take place outside of Europe. The ministry's one-stop pavilion at the trade show offers the participating B.C. companies and institutes an opportunity to capitalize on China's ambitious maritime strategy to develop an environmentally friendly and efficient seaside economy.

China's Blue Economy plan for its coastline has become an engine for economic activity. In the first Blue Economy zone in Shandong Province, the marine sector recorded a growth rate of 10.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2013, and total spending on ocean-related activities in the East China zone, including ocean mapping and sustained monitoring, reached almost $400-billion in 2012.

British Columbia is perfectly placed to provide ocean-observing technology and expertise to China and other markets around the globe, including observatory infrastructure, models for prediction and forecasting, and systems for marine spatial planning and hazard assessment.

B.C. is home to the University of Victoria's VENUS and NEPTUNE Canada cabled ocean network. Managed by Ocean Networks Canada, this world-leading observatory provides a continuous flow of sea-floor data in real time, research that supports B.C.'s thriving ocean-related economy.

At the conclusion of the Oceanology International China conference on Friday, the ONCIC is co-ordinating and funding a week-long series of meetings between the B.C. delegation and research centres throughout East China. The mission will include logistical support from the Ministry of International Trade's marine sector specialist and British Columbia's trade and investment offices in Shanghai and Guangzhou.

A full list of the participating companies and organizations is available in the attached backgrounder.

Quotes:

Teresa Wat, Minister of International Trade and Minister Responsible for the Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism -

"We are committed to growing our economy and creating high-value jobs for British Columbians by opening up new markets for our technology and services."

"British Columbia's marine and ocean technology sector has world-recognized expertise to offer China as it develops its marine infrastructure, and targeted outreach like this mission gives our businesses and institutions opportunities to make vital international connections."

Scott McLean, director, Ocean Networks Canada Innovation Centre -

"China is one of the world's fastest-growing economies, particularly in the marine sector. Our innovation centre is building international partnerships that will advance ocean technology in both China and British Columbia to ensure sustained monitoring of the ocean environment."

Learn More:

• For photographs of Wat and ROPOS, a submersible remotely operated vehicle, check out this Flickr set: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjFWVRjY
• On Thursday Sept. 5, Ocean Networks Canada and the Schmidt Ocean Institute will celebrate a new research partnership in Victoria. Interested media should contact ONC: vkeast@uvic.ca
• Read the Vancouver Board of Trade and ONC's economic impact assessment of ocean-oriented activities in British Columbia, which account for eight per cent of B.C.'s jobs and seven per cent of the province's GDP, including $4.2 billion directly in wages, salaries and benefits: http://www.oceannetworks.ca/resource-library/documents-publications/vancouver-board-trade-onc-economic-impact-assessment
• British Columbia has four trade and investment offices across China - in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Find out more by visiting our international-facing website: http://www.britishcolumbia.ca/ and by following the Trade and Invest Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/BCTradeInvest
• The B.C. Business Network is a dynamic directory that gives B.C. exporters access to the tools, services and on-the-ground connections they need to grow their business internationally. To learn more and register: https://www.britishcolumbia.ca/Export/Index.aspx

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Media Relations
Ministry of International Trade and Responsible for the Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism
250 356-0613

(flickr.com)

BACKGROUNDER

Oceanography Trade Mission

China 2013

Ocean Networks Canada (Victoria). Established in 2007 by the University of Victoria, Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) is a national research facility operating world-leading ocean observatories in both coastal and deep-sea environments. The $200-million facilities include the VENUS coastal observatory in the Salish Sea, and the NEPTUNE observatory off the west coast of B.C. ONC enables researchers worldwide to conduct ocean research using innovative technologies and by providing data access 24/7 through powered fibre-optic cables in real time, via the Internet. The ONC Centre for Innovation (ONCIC) provides technologies and services nationally and internationally to expand and establish ocean observing programs. www.oceannetworks.ca

Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility (Sidney). The CSSF is a nationally registered not-for-profit corporation that manages and operates the Remotely Operated Platform for Ocean Sciences, or ROPOS, system. The system includes a remotely operated vehicle that is capable of operating to depths of up to 5,000 metres, and ROPOS has operated throughout the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans on board 14 different research ships in support of over 1,600 science and engineering related dives. www.ropos.com

AML Oceanographic (Sidney). AML Oceanographic (formerly Applied Microsystems) has 38 years of experience in the design and manufacture of ocean sensors, including conductivity, time-of-flight sound velocity, temperature, pressure, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity. It is the exclusive manufacturer of X-Series Sensor Xchangeable instruments in the oceanographic industry. www.amloceanographic.com

ASL Environmental Sciences Inc. (Victoria). ASL is an employee-owned company that provides a full range of physical oceanographic services. ASL has more than 35 years of experience in oceanographic, acoustic, remote sensing and ice research and manufactures its own line of underwater acoustic instruments: the Ice Profiler to measure ice-keel depths; and the Acoustic Zooplankton and Fish Profiler to monitor the presence and location of zooplankton, fish or sediments using multiple frequency acoustics. www.aslenv.com

AXYS Technologies Inc. (Sidney). Over the past 39 years, AXYS has evolved into a world leader in the provision of turn-key environmental monitoring systems, providing over 500 systems to clients in 50 countries. AXYS's main product lines include TRIAXYS directional wave buoys, metocean ODAS buoys, water quality buoys, and port and vessel traffic management solutions. www.axystechnologies.com

International Submarine Engineering (Port Coquitlam). Formed in 1974, International Submarine Engineering is a high-technology company engaged in the development and manufacture of undersea vehicles, control systems and robotics. It has delivered more than 240 underwater vehicles and 400 robotic manipulators to customers around the world, including China. www.ise.bc.ca

Rockland Scientific Inc. (Victoria). RSI is the foremost manufacturer of instrumentation for the measurement of marine turbulence, including tidal power generation, pollutant dispersal and climate change research. Its technology is used by universities, research institutes and navies in 15 countries, including China. www.rocklandscientific.com

SEAMOR Marine Ltd. (Nanaimo). Founded in 2006, SEAMOR Marine designs, manufactures and distributes remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and related modular accessories and devices. Its subsea observation/inspection-class ROVs reach customers through a growing network of international dealers. www.seamor.com

Think Sensor Research (West Vancouver). Think Sensor Research provides state-of-the-art sensor products and highly individualized support to customers around the world. Its navigation, remote sensing and sonar systems are used in the marine and aerospace sectors. thinksensor.com

Contact:

Media Relations
Ministry of International Trade and Responsible for the Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism
250 356-0613