That One Time ... We Were an Oceans Powerhouse

From September 23 to 26, OCEANS 2024 was the event for Maritime professionals, researchers, and innovators. This four-day international conference championed ocean innovation and conservation. With over 1,500 guests from around the world, OCEANS 2024 buzzed with keynote speeches, technical sessions, dynamic panel discussions, and an exhibition hall packed with over 100 ocean tech vendors. To celebrate our ocean economy, the Halifax Convention Centre hosted a Local OCEANS Pop-Up Market with sea-themed vendors (South Shore Sea Salt, anyone?) for guests and community. 

What made the Halifax Convention Centre the perfect host for OCEANS 2024? Our strong coastal culture and leading-edge researchers who drive innovation in ocean technology and research. Did you know that Halifax is Canada's largest centre for ocean research, with 600 scientists, engineers, and technicians? In fact, there are more than 500 ocean sector companies in Nova Scotia, including the most ocean tech start-ups in one city in Canada.

Each year, ocean-related industries generate approximately $6 billion (or 13.5 per cent) of Nova Scotia's GDP and ocean-tech industry accounts for 33 per cent of total research and development among Nova Scotia businesses. Along with eight post-secondary institutions supporting ocean and sciences research across the province, and significant annual provincial investments, Halifax is an oceans leader. Not to mention the seafood! Nova Scotia's seafood export market is valued at $2.5 billion annually and we do our part. At the Halifax Convention Centre, we are proud to serve Atlantic seafood, including D'Eon Oysters and Sustainable Blue Salmon, as part of our Local Program. These are some of the many reasons why Halifax was the perfect host for this major event. Watch the video below from our team and our partners on that one time Halifax was an oceans powerhouse.