This micro-credential supports people developing, scaling, or supporting ocean-based ideas and ventures. It focuses on commercialization pathways, funding readiness, and turning concepts into viable projects or businesses.
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Designed for aspiring entrepreneurs, innovators, and professionals seeking to launch or scale initiatives in the ocean sector, this micro-credential provides a practical foundation in ocean industry context, innovation, governance, and proposal development. Through a combination of courses—including Ocean Industry Landscape, Blue Technology, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, federal and provincial governance, proposal writing, and incorporating Indigenous knowledge—participants gain the skills needed to navigate regulatory environments, develop fundable ideas, and build ventures grounded in sustainability and respectful engagement. The credential supports learners in translating innovation into viable ocean-based projects, businesses, or programs within Canada and internationally.
Founders, innovators, advisors, and professionals working with startups or new initiatives.
This course will introduce learners to Canada’s blue tech innovation ecosystem. It will explore the entrepreneurial process from ideation through to prototyping and commercialization, with a focus on the unique challenges and opportunities facing marine innovators. Case studies will showcase successful startups, and innovation supports such as accelerators, incubators, and clusters.
This module introduces learners to the legislative landscape shaping ocean and Great Lakes activities across Canada’s provinces and territories. It examines how provincial statutes interact with federal approvals, focusing on Crown-land tenures, discharge permits, and Indigenous co-management frameworks. Learners will explore the complexities of overlapping jurisdictions and strategies for effective coordination. Case studies will highlight sector-specific impacts—such as aquaculture, shipping, offshore energy, conservation, and ecotourism—and the provincial legislation governing them. Practical exercises will include mapping coastal project timelines to identify permitting requirements and prioritize compliance tasks.
By the end of this section, you will be able to:
Describe the scope of each featured sector and the legislation that impacts it.
Outline the approval chain for each sector and explain how that chain changes in different provinces or territories.
Identify the core statutes and regulations that apply during day-to-day operations.
Explain which regulatory touchpoints trigger mandatory Indigenous or co-management engagement
Compare how compliance requirements change depending on whether the activity takes place in internal waters, the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone, or on the extended continental shelf.
This introductory course will provide a broad overview of Canada’s ocean economy, including major sectors, geographic hubs, workforce trends, and future opportunities. Content will highlight the diversity of marine industries such as fisheries, aquaculture, ocean technology, marine tourism, and offshore energy, with an emphasis on sustainability and innovation.
This course will introduce learners to Canada’s blue tech innovation ecosystem. It will explore the entrepreneurial process from ideation through to prototyping and commercialization, with a focus on the unique challenges and opportunities facing marine innovators. Case studies will showcase successful startups, and innovation supports such as accelerators, incubators, and clusters.
This module introduces learners to the legislative landscape shaping ocean and Great Lakes activities across Canada’s provinces and territories. It examines how provincial statutes interact with federal approvals, focusing on Crown-land tenures, discharge permits, and Indigenous co-management frameworks. Learners will explore the complexities of overlapping jurisdictions and strategies for effective coordination. Case studies will highlight sector-specific impacts—such as aquaculture, shipping, offshore energy, conservation, and ecotourism—and the provincial legislation governing them. Practical exercises will include mapping coastal project timelines to identify permitting requirements and prioritize compliance tasks.
By the end of this section, you will be able to:
Describe the scope of each featured sector and the legislation that impacts it.
Outline the approval chain for each sector and explain how that chain changes in different provinces or territories.
Identify the core statutes and regulations that apply during day-to-day operations.
Explain which regulatory touchpoints trigger mandatory Indigenous or co-management engagement
Compare how compliance requirements change depending on whether the activity takes place in internal waters, the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone, or on the extended continental shelf.
This introductory course will provide a broad overview of Canada’s ocean economy, including major sectors, geographic hubs, workforce trends, and future opportunities. Content will highlight the diversity of marine industries such as fisheries, aquaculture, ocean technology, marine tourism, and offshore energy, with an emphasis on sustainability and innovation.
Dans un esprit de respect, de réciprocité et de vérité, nous honorons et reconnaissons Moh’kinsstis, le territoire traditionnel du Traité 7 et les pratiques orales de la confédération des Pieds-Noirs : Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, ainsi que les nations Îyâxe Nakoda et Tsuut’ina. Nous reconnaissons que ce territoire abrite la Nation métisse de l’Alberta, la région 3 au sein de la patrie historique des Métis du Nord-Ouest. Enfin, nous reconnaissons toutes les nations qui vivent, travaillent et se divertissent sur ce territoire, et qui l’honorent et le célèbrent.
In the spirit of respect, reciprocity and truth, we honour and acknowledge Moh’kinsstis and the traditional Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Blackfoot confederacy: Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, as well as the Îyâxe Nakoda and Tsuut’ina nations. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3, within the historical Northwest Métis homeland. Finally, we recognize all Nations who live, work and play on this land and honour and celebrate this territory.