The Deep Bay Field Station

Background

Agricultural field stations have played a transformative role in the “green revolution” of modern agriculture because they bring together industry, academic researchers and government – a tri-partite collaboration proven to be essential in supporting the innovation system that drives modern agriculture. We at the Vancouver Island University Centre for Shellfish Research are attempting to duplicate this successful model - but for shellfish farming – an economic engine for revitalizing coastal and First Nations communities. We have developed a unique concept for the Deep Bay Field Station which integrates the traditional roles of field stations within a comprehensive framework of green energy design and demonstration.

Deep Bay Field Station Objectives:

1) to accommodate the simultaneous delivery of multiple shellfish-related programs in special purpose venues and;

2) to demonstrate sustainable (green) building technologies in a coastal area under enormous development pressures, through a publicly accessible platinum accredited LEED® green building.

Objective 1 – Sustainable Shellfish Economic Development

The Deep Bay Field Station will cluster scientific, environmental, economic and public engagement programming into one facility thereby creating a centre of excellence and innovation to support sustainable shellfish aquaculture development and preservation of coastal ecosystems.

Benefits

• Empower First Nations to succeed in shellfish aquaculture businesses through effective training, mentoring and capacity building;
• Strengthen the shellfish aquaculture innovation system by increasing interaction among scientific institutions, researchers and industry;
• Sharpen the focus on applied research and accelerate knowledge application by linking research with training; Attain social acceptance through innovative public engagement programs, and;
• Increase rural economic infrastructure in BC’s coastal communities.

Objective 2 – Green Energy/Sustainable Building Demonstration

We aim to develop the Deep Bay Field Station as a green design facility with anticipated LEED® Platinum accreditation to promote and showcase practical applications of alternative technologies for energy and water usage.

By assembling a design team led by Larry McFarland Architects Ltd., who designed the Parks Canada Gulf Islands Operations Centre (first LEED platinum building in Canada), we will build on a proven model, introduce further innovation and showcase these technologies and concepts.  In this way, the thousands of visitors to the Deep Bay Field Station site will learn specifically about sustainable design and resource conservation and will be exposed to pathways for making a personal difference to their environment through reduction in carbon emissions and reduction of their ecological footprint in coastal British Columbia.

The Deep Bay Field Station will be a keystone facility to enhance the research and innovation system supporting the development of a sustainable shellfish aquaculture industry in BC.