Government of Canada invests in ocean observation science to help protect Canada’s oceans

Ottawa: Canada’s three oceans are fundamental to our identity and culture. They provide recreational and commercial opportunities to Indigenous and coastal communities, and connect us globally. Working with research organizations to collect and share information and data on ocean conditions is key to protecting our oceans for the benefit of future generations.

Today, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, announced $8.7 million in funding to Ocean Networks Canada, an initiative of the University of Victoria, to support their ocean research and observation activities. Observing all three of our coasts will help support the sustainable management of the ecosystems and species that Canadians depend on for our livelihood, safety and culture. It is an investment in the information we need to overcome modern ocean challenges – like warming oceans, rising sea levels and ocean acidification – that can affect our blue economy.

This funding builds on the Government of Canada’s investment made through the Canada Foundation for Innovation and helps to ensure Canada remains an ocean science leader by continuing to provide ocean observation data in real-time to a network of researchers around the world.

The Government of Canada is developing a Blue Economy Strategy that will guide future federal investments and actions on all three coasts and across all ocean sectors. Ocean observation data play a key role in enhancing the ocean economy and help us understand how economic practices impact the environment.