Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development (CASD)

Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
What the facility does

Seafood processing, aquaculture and bioprocessing research: equipment & process design, product development, pilot scale-up, by-products, fish growth and performance trials

Areas of expertise

The Centre for Aquaculture and Seafood Development (CASD) is a comprehensive industrial response unit within the School of Fisheries at the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University. CASD has the largest pilot plant facilities of its kind in Atlantic Canada, with a combined area of nearly 1,400 square metres. Facilities include a 1,100 square metre state-of-the-art food processing pilot plant, land-based aquaculture research facility and a marine bioprocessing pilot plant facility. In addition, the Centre operates an analytical lab which supports the pilot plant facilities.

CASD employs scientists and technicians to undertake contractual research and development projects and provide technical support services to the seafood and aquaculture sectors in areas related to: (1) Seafood Processing – process automation and optimization, equipment design, product development and testing, thermal processing; (2) Aquaculture – alternative strain assessment, feed trials, aquaculture engineering, aquaponics, sea lice mitigation, waste management; (3) Marine Bioprocessing - By-product utilization, waste management, extraction of bioactive compounds.

Research services
  • Development of post-harvest handling and holding technologies
  • Equipment design, prototype development
  • Product and process development - marine bio-products
  • Lab scale (up to 5 kg) and pilot-scale production (5-500 kg)
  • Development of land-based live holding systems
  • Growth and performance trials - fresh and saltwater
  • Production of live feeds for experimental studies
  • Health studies for endogenous pathogens
  • Lab scale purification and concentration of marine extracts
  • Food chemistry, oil, biodiesel, waste water analysis
  • Equipment test runs, manufacturer’s demonstrations, industry workshops
Sectors of application
  • Agriculture, animal science and food
  • Fisheries and aquaculture
  • Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment
  • Manufacturing and processing
  • Ocean industries
Specialized lab Equipment  Function
Seafood Processing Pilot Plant NC Hiperbaric 55L Wave High Pressure Processing System Uses hydrostatic pressure to facilitate raw meat removal from shellfish; pasteurization applications
Aquaculture Research Facility
  • 5 independent recirculation systems
  • 2 flow through fresh water systems
  • 24 hour on call monitoring system
Used to conduct growth and performance trials in fresh or salt water for a range of aquatic species
Marine Bioprocessing Pilot Plant Alfa Laval Contherm and Decanter system Pilot scale extraction of marine oils, operating capacity of 1 tonne per hour
Marine Bioprocessing Research Lab GC-MS (Thermo Fisher TRACE, Gas- Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer) Fatty acid profile of salmonids and salmonid by-products