Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland

The Holyrood Marine Base was the place to be on July 16 as local residents and tourists stopped by for an up-close look at the important training and research activities undertaken at MI and the facility.

Throughout the day, visitors explored the MV Anne S. Pierce, learned about what’s happening at the Institute’s Offshore Safety and Survival Centre, Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research and Centre for Applied Ocean Technology and visited displays by DFO and the Canadian Coast Guard.

Guests also met three-time international MATE ROV competition winners, Eastern Edge and had the chance to pilot an ROV. Boat tours, face painting, balloon animals and a touch tank were also popular.

On the beach, children were able to get hands-on with MI Ocean Net through activities including a plankton investigation, identifying species and vegetation in the intertidal zone and learning all about ocean layers.

The Holyrood Marine Base opened in 2010 and is the first phase of creating a world-class facility capable of providing education to the Marine Institute’s students and industry clients. The base supports research related to ocean technology, fisheries, marine environmental studies, oil spill response and offshore safety and survival. Research vessels, ROVs and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) also call the base home.