Shift Coastal Brings Advanced Marine Tech to Gitxaala Nation for Three-Phase Project

Gitxaala Environmental Services been awarded nearly half of a million dollars in funding, a recent announcement revealed.

The capital is earmarked to support a multi-phase project from Gitxaala, run by the northern coastal Gitxaała Nation, aimed at enhancing environmental monitoring processes in-port and terminal settings to improve operational efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

The funding hails from Innovate BC’s Integrated Marketplace program. Created to help drive innovation in the province, the Integrated Marketplace supports projects that connect strategic partners to B.C.-based solution providers to implement, scale, and export local technology solutions.

“Through the Integrated Marketplace, we are creating an avenue for local solution providers such as Gitxaala Environmental Services to contribute to the development of high-growth industries and at the same time address critical priorities here in B.C. and at a global level,” stated Peter Cowan, CEO of Innovate BC.

For its project, Gitxaala has tapped Nanaimo’s Shift Coastal Technologies. A collaboration between the two will see Shift Coastal’s Port Environmental Monitoring Platform assist Gitxaala with critical data collection.

“This collaboration … is key to building resilient and local expertise in marine and environmental sciences on the North Coast of British Columbia,” stated Trevor McConkey, General Manager of Gitxaala Environmental Services.

Shift’s port monitoring platform uses sensors mounted on autonomous surface vessels to collect ecological data on marine life, water quality, reef health, and more.

“This collaboration … exemplifies how advanced marine technologies, paired with a local First Nation-owned business, can create scalable, impactful solutions for sustainability,” stated James Spencer, CEO of Shift Coastal Technologies.

The project includes three phases.

The first phase will see sampling drones observe marine mammals and assess water quality while shore-based technology conducts optical and thermal imaging. Next, hydroacoustic sensors will track underwater noise, establishing protective exclusion zones and ensuring compliance with environmental laws. Finally, photogrammetric cameras will create 3D models of artificial reefs and other underwater structures, for enhanced environmental management.

Shift Coastal Technologies was established in 2018.