Ocean Diagnostics and National Research Council Canada Introduce Microplastics Monitoring Framework
2 min read
Jul 16, 2025
WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 2025: VICTORIA, BC – In a new collaboration, Ocean Diagnostics (ODI) is teaming up with the National Research Council Canada (NRC) to develop a national microplastics framework using novel technologies and state-of-the-art laboratory analysis capabilities.
The project will test the accuracy of the NRC’s prediction model, called CaMPSim-3D (Canadian MicroPlastics Simulation), which simulates how microplastics move through the marine environment, by comparing its outputs to real-world data gathered by Canadian microplastics researchers using ODI’s advanced microplastics sampling technology. The project aims to standardize microplastic measurements across Canada to guide policy decisions. Both the observed data and modeling results will be made available through COMEX—the Canadian Ocean Microplastic Explorer web application to support open science and evidence-based environmental management.
”Plastic pollution in marine environments is a global challenge,” says Marie-Chantal Ross, Program Director of the NRC’s Ocean program, “microplastics are an even bigger challenge and a much harder one to solve. We are only starting to understand the environmental and human health impacts these pollutants cause. This project will further our knowledge on how and where microplastics distribute and settle so researchers, policy makers and entrepreneurs can determine how best to address this micro-level massive problem.”
From now until the end of 2026, researchers from the University of British Columbia, Université Laval, and Carleton University will collect seasonal water samples from five key rivers that empty into the ocean using ODI’s automated depth sampler, Ascension. The samples will be analyzed at the company’s ISO-5 Clean Microplastics Analysis Laboratory in Vancouver, and the data will be compared to CaMPSim-3D’s predictions, which employ validated hydrodynamic models. The results and fully validated model are expected to be released in 2027.
“This collaboration marks an exciting milestone for microplastics science in Canada,” says Dr. Jennifer Cocking, Program Manager at Ocean Diagnostics. She continues, “Together with NRC, we are creating the first-of-its-kind, Canadian-wide dataset and microplastics monitoring framework — key steps in advancing science and plastic pollution policy.”
Microplastic research has been challenging due to inconsistent sampling methods, contamination risks and difficulties in identifying plastic polymer types, a key factor in addressing plastic pollution sources and solutions. ODI’s innovative sampling and analysis capabilities help researchers overcome these barriers.
“This work is more than just science—it’s a roadmap for action,” says Dr. Johan Foster, researcher at the University of British Columbia. “By understanding how microplastics behave, we can help governments and environmental groups focus their efforts on the most effective solutions before these pollutants reach the open ocean.”
This project came about when the company worked with the NRC to develop an in-situ microplastics sensor to quantify and characterize microplastic particles in the environment in real time. The NRC was interested in sensor development because there was none available, and they needed it to further this important research for Canada. This sensor prototype will be validated alongside standard sampling methods as part of this project.
“Fate and transport modelling is essential for understanding how microplastics move and where they accumulate in our waters. These models rely on real-world data for validation, but they also play a key role in guiding monitoring, helping to determine when, where, and what to sample. This two-way relationship makes modelling and monitoring deeply interconnected,” says Vahid Pilechi, Project Lead at the NRC.
“Conventional sampling methods can be time-consuming, costly and labour-intensive. By integrating in-situ sensors that deliver real-time, high-resolution data, we can make monitoring more efficient while improving model accuracy. This integrated approach accelerates the collection and analysis of the scientific data needed to inform decision-making—ultimately strengthening our ability to protect our oceans through evidence-based policy and targeted environmental action.”
As the world faces increasing pressure to address marine plastic pollution, Canada is aligning cutting-edge technology and science to advance ocean health.