UBC Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries

What UBC Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries does

The UBC Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries (IOF) is an academic research institute within the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Science, established in 2015 and headquartered on UBC's Vancouver campus. The institute conducts interdisciplinary research spanning oceanography, fisheries science, marine biology, ecological modeling, and the social dimensions of ocean governance, serving academic peers, government agencies (Canadian federal/BC ministries, NOAA, UN bodies), Indigenous Nations (notably Homalco and Tsleil-Waututh), philanthropic funders, and foundation partners. Its core technical capabilities center on environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling and metabarcoding for marine species detection, statistical ecology methods for habitat selection and animal movement, fisheries assessment and modeling approaches, and global fisheries catch reconstruction through the Sea Around Us initiative.

The institute operates several branded research programs including the Pelagic Ecosystems Lab (eDNA and zooplankton biodiversity), the Statistical Ecology Research Group (SERG), the Fisheries Economics Research Unit (FERU), Project Seahorse, and the Africa-UBC Oceans and Fisheries Visiting Fellows Program. IOF does not sell commercial products or services; instead, its outputs include peer-reviewed publications (notably the Fisheries Centre Research Reports series), graduate-level academic programs, non-credit professional courses (e.g., Introduction to Aquatic Data Sciences), and policy advisory input to the UN Third World Ocean Assessment and NOAA-led SUPREME program. Funding flows from competitive research grants (NSERC Discovery Grants, Canada Research Chairs), philanthropy (Bloomberg Philanthropies Ocean Initiative), and foundation support (Tula Foundation, MITACS, Peter Wall Legacy Awards). Recognition includes the 2023 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement (Pauly and Sumaila), the 2024 BC Conservation & Biodiversity Award, and induction into the Royal Society of Canada College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.

Name

UBC Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries

Legal name

Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries (IOF), The University of British Columbia

Website

https://oceans.ubc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The UBC Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries is an academic research unit within UBC's Faculty of Science that conducts interdisciplinary ocean and fisheries research using eDNA, statistical ecology, and fisheries modeling. It serves governments, Indigenous Nations, international bodies, and academic peers through publications, policy advice, and training programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine and Fisheries Academic Research

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Aquaculture (11251)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aquatic Ecology & Fisheries Assessments (EUAHAHAB), Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI), Aquaculture & Fisheries Operations (EDAOAOAK)

Keywords

• Ocean and fisheries research
• Marine biodiversity conservation
• Fisheries economics research
• Marine ecosystem monitoring
• Aquatic science education

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The UBC Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries is an academic research institute that conducts interdisciplinary research on ocean ecosystems, marine biodiversity, and sustainable fisheries management. It offers graduate-level academic programs, non-credit professional courses such as Introduction to Aquatic Data Sciences, the Africa-UBC Visiting Fellows Program for sub-Saharan African researchers, peer-reviewed Fisheries Centre Research Reports, and operates specialized research labs including the Pelagic Ecosystems Lab and the Statistical Ecology Research Group (SERG). Research outputs include science-based policy advice, stock assessments, conservation planning, and climate adaptation strategies delivered to governments, Indigenous communities, and international bodies.

Product overview

The UBC Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries is an academic research institution within UBC's Faculty of Science. Rather than a commercial product portfolio, its offerings consist of educational programs (graduate degrees, non-credit professional courses), research publications (Fisheries Centre Research Reports), fellowship opportunities (Africa-UBC Visiting Fellows Program), and specialized research laboratories conducting ocean and fisheries science. The Institute operates research labs including the Pelagic Ecosystems Lab and Statistical Ecology Research Group (SERG), producing peer-reviewed publications and training future researchers in marine science.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pelagic Ecosystems Lab: Research laboratory led by Dr. Brian Hunt focusing on pelagic marine ecosystems, zooplankton biodiversity, and environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling methods for species detection and monitoring.
• SERG (Statistical Ecology Research Group)
• Africa-UBC Oceans and Fisheries Visiting Fellows Program
• Sea Around Us
• Project Seahorse
• FERU (Fisheries Economics Research Unit)

Products and services

• Graduate Program Graduate-level academic program offering degrees in ocean and fisheries sciences as part of UBC's Faculty of Science.
• Non-Credit Courses Extended learning courses including Introduction to Aquatic Data Sciences designed for professionals and researchers in oceans, fisheries, and sustainable development.
• Africa-UBC Oceans and Fisheries Visiting Fellows Program Research fellowship program established in 2024 enabling sub-Saharan African early-career researchers to participate in collaborative research on African ocean or freshwater systems sustainability and conservation projects with UBC scholars, with total fellowship value of approximately $23,000 CAD per laureate.
• Fisheries Centre Research Reports (FCRR) Peer-reviewed research report series covering fisheries science, marine ecology, fish biology, and related topics, published by the Institute.
• Pelagic Ecosystems Lab Research laboratory focused on pelagic (open ocean) ecosystems, studying zooplankton, micronekton, marine food webs, and using eDNA for biodiversity monitoring.
• SERG (Statistical Ecology Research Group) Research group developing new statistical methods to tackle ecological data problems, including habitat selection models and animal movement analysis.
• Sea Around Us Research initiative focused on global fisheries data, catch reconstructions, and marine biodiversity research led by Dr. Daniel Pauly.
• Project Seahorse Conservation research initiative focused on seahorses and marine conservation led by Dr. Amanda Vincent.
• FERU (Fisheries Economics Research Unit) Research unit focused on fisheries economics and policy analysis led by Dr. Rashid Sumaila.

Quantifiable outcome

• Led international review evaluating 22 climate mitigation and adaptation strategies across fisheries and aquaculture, published in Environmental Research: Food Systems
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University of Cape CoastcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Developed the Africa-UBC Oceans and Fisheries Visiting Fellows Program in collaboration with IOF professors. The University of Cape Coast in Ghana assists with program development and administration, including hosting the application portal (africaubcprogram.ucc.edu.gh).
• Homalco First NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research on Bute Inlet fjord conservation. The Homalco First Nation has governance over parts of Bute Inlet, where eulachon populations were discovered inhabiting and reproducing in unprotected fjords.
• Tsleil-Waututh NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on conservation and stewardship initiatives. Indian Arm fjord, under governance of Tsleil-Waututh Nation, was identified as having eulachon habitat. The nation is also involved in the Tsleil-Waututh Nation Guardian program benefiting from eDNA sampling research.
• Hakai InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing research collaboration including the Juvenile Salmon Survival Program and Hakai Coastal Initiative's Marine Food Webs Working Group. The Hakai Institute provides infrastructure and support for field research in coastal BC.
• Stockholm Resilience CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Colette Wabnitz serves as research affiliate, contributing to interdisciplinary research on ocean sustainability, blue foods, and climate solutions.
• Stanford University Center for Ocean SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Colette Wabnitz is senior researcher at both IOF and Stanford's Center for Ocean Solutions, working on climate adaptation and blue food sustainability research.
• International Organizations (UN, NOAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIOF researchers including Rashid Sumaila, Brian Hunt, Ibrahim Issifu, Louise Teh, Colette Wabnitz, and Nathan Bennett participated in writing the UN Third World Ocean Assessment. Dr. Deng Palomares is on the international steering committee for NOAA-led SUPREME program endorsed by UN Decade of Ocean Science.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: Leading independent ocean research organization delivering marine science, ocean observation, and graduate education — closely comparable in mission, scale, and the mix of basic research, policy influence, and graduate training that defines IOF.
• Scripps Institution of Oceanography: UC San Diego's oceanographic research institute conducting marine biology, fisheries, and climate-ocean science with a similarly broad academic research mandate and graduate training programs — directly comparable to IOF's research-institute structure and core ocean/fisheries focus.
• Plymouth Marine Laboratory: UK-based marine research institute working on ocean biogeochemistry, ecosystem observation, and marine biodiversity — comparable to IOF in basic-and-applied ocean research mix and policy engagement.
• Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions: Stanford-based applied ocean policy and science center where Dr. Colette Wabnitz holds a senior researcher role; directly comparable through joint ocean sustainability, climate adaptation, and blue food research programs with IOF.
• Stockholm Resilience Centre: Stockholm University research centre focused on ocean sustainability, blue foods, and resilience science — an IOF partner via research affiliate Dr. Colette Wabnitz, with directly overlapping research themes on blue food systems and ocean governance.
• Hakai Institute: BC-based marine research institute with overlapping focus on coastal BC ecosystems, salmon, eDNA, and long-term ecological monitoring; explicitly cited as a core research partner of IOF and operates in the same geographic and scientific niche.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute: Private oceanographic research institute focused on marine science and technology development — comparable as a research-only ocean institute combining fundamental science with technology/methodology development like IOF's eDNA work.

Broad incumbents

• NOAA Fisheries: U.S. federal agency conducting fisheries science, stock assessments, and marine resource management — a major institutional user of fisheries research methods and an IOF partner through the SUPREME program and joint UN assessment work.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO): Canadian federal agency responsible for fisheries management, marine science, and oceans policy — the primary Canadian counterpart and frequent partner of IOF, providing policy uptake of IOF research on stock assessments and conservation.

Emerging players

• Schmidt Ocean Institute: Philanthropically funded ocean research organization supporting technology-enabled ocean exploration and open data — overlaps with IOF's science-policy interface and open data ethos, though Schmidt emphasizes technology platform and vessel access over institutional academic structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/ubcoceans

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about UBC Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries