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Or sign-in if you have an account.A net sensor designed and built by Notus Electronics Ltd. In Mount Pearl, NL is deployed underwater to monitor the geometrical shape and position of a fishing net. Photo by Notus Electronics Ltd.Even though its products are exempt, a Newfoundland and Labrador fisheries technology company says shipments destined for the United States are sometimes erroneously slapped with thousands in tariffs.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorNotus Electronics Ltd. develops and manufactures advanced, wireless net monitoring, gear finding and target detection systems for the fishing and offshore oil and gas industries.Tariffs have been causing uncertainty for both the American agents who buy and resell Notus products and those who purchase the technology.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again“Even to this day, that uncertainty among the agents and the end users has caused us issues,” said marketing manager Francis Parrott. “There’s no doubt about that. We have seen some delays in purchasing and uneasiness by the agents in importing the equipment.“If you know there’s going to be a tariff, you can handle it, but the uncertainty of what’s going to have a tariff, what’s not going to have a tariff and, if a tariff was applied, how you actually go about getting a refund – that uncertainty is the biggest problem.” Francis Parrott is Notus Electronics Ltd.’s marketing manager. Photo by Notus Electronics Ltd.That challenge, and the ongoing unpredictability surrounding geopolitics and trade, are driving Notus to seek new international markets.The Mount Pearl, N.L.-based company is among the many trying to do so. A recent Export Development Canada survey found that 65 per cent of the country’s businesses plan on entering new markets over the next two years.“The survey results reveal a clear departure from previous common trade strategies,” the March report says. “The number of companies beginning their export journey in multiple markets has more than tripled over the past decade, from 13 per cent (2015) to 43 per cent (2025).“In reaction to evolving trade policies, many are opting to begin their export journey outside of the United States.” Notus Electronics Ltd. has been designing and manufacturing its line of wireless net monitoring, gear finding and target detection systems in Mount Pearl, NL since it was established in 1992. Photo by David Howells /Notus Electronics Ltd.Notus has been selling to the U.S. market for decades, and it is already a global player, having built up a dealer network throughout Europe and New Zealand. It even opened a satellite office, called Notus Maritima, in Vigo, Spain in 2010.However, the company wants to keep expanding to new places.Last month, the federal government gave Notus $375,000 through its Regional Tariff Response Initiative, a $1.5-billion national fund to help Canadian businesses respond to global trade pressures, strengthen productivity and build long-term competitiveness.Notus will use money to diversify both its product line and its target market by exploring opportunities in Europe and Southeast Asia.“We have some cutting-edge technology being released – something that no other competitor has,” said Parrott, though declining to provide any details on what that to-be-released technology involves.“There’s a rollout plan being executed for that technology in Europe right now and that funding is really helping to offset some of the costs in that very aggressive rollout plan.” A shrimp detector helps harvesters locate the species that other sounder devices cannot pick up, making for a more efficient fishery. Photo by Notus Electronics Ltd.In a release announcing the funding, Newfoundland and Labrador MP Tom Osborne said businesses like Notus “are developing innovative technologies, finding new ways to grow, and helping solve challenges around the world”The company’s products include sensors that let fishing crews know if their nets have optimal shape and positioning for harvesting, shrimp finders that help efficiently locate a species that evades detection on sounder devices, and ice nets used to tow icebergs.Parrott said there are only three other companies in the world doing the kind of work Notus does. He estimates it’s a $50 million industry. This towed hydrophone, used to detect and record audio signals underwater, is one of the products designed and built by Notus Electronics Ltd. in Mount Pearl, NL. Photo by Notus Electronics Ltd.In the fishery, Notus sensors let trawlers know if the doors of nets are open properly and if nets are of an optimal shape. Being able to detect where shrimp are could dramatically reduce the amount of time a trawler would otherwise spend hoping to luck into a good catch.Parrott noted a factor in attracting the best crews is for a fishing vessel to have Notus technology since crewmates are often paid a percentage of a boat’s profits and anything that increases the bottom line is an incentive.Giving harvesters proverbial eyes beneath the waves so they aren’t fishing blindly has other benefits besides harvesting efficiency, explained Parrott. The savings on fuel and fewer trawl tows also mean less habitat disturbance and fewer carbon emissions.“We can’t forget how much our company does for the environment by how many tows we save, how much fuel we save, how much CO2 we reduce,” said Parrott.In the offshore oil and gas industry, Notus technology is deployed by supply vessels whenever they need to tow an approaching iceberg away from oil rigs and other assets on the high seas.“They can be sure the ice net is deployed correctly. It has the right depth and see its geometry before they wrap around the iceberg,” explained Parrott. “So, that’s been a real success story of the oil and gas industry coming to a local Newfoundland company for a solution.”He hopes to continue bringing Notus technology to more of the world.“(Tariffs) did force us to look elsewhere, I don’t think there was any doubt about that, but I think I think our market is now more diversified and the company is even stronger because of it,” he said. “Right now, there are a lot of really interesting things happening and it’s an exciting time to be here at Notus.” Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.