Federal investment in ONC enhances coastal monitoring

UVic’s world-leading Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) received $7.2 million in new funding from the federal government last month to continue its work monitoring Canada’s ocean and coasts. The new investment, announced by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, is funded through the $1.5-billion Oceans Protection Plan and will be used by ONC to augment its current network of oceanographic radars and underwater hydrophones in key coastal locations.

Oceanographic data collected on sea-surface currents will inform navigation and emergency response on diverse fronts ranging from ships in distress to oil spills. Acoustic data measuring underwater noise in specific marine mammal habitats will provide a compilation of data over time and help inform mitigation strategies.

The federal Oceans Protection Plan aims to create a globally recognized marine safety system that provides economic opportunities for Canadians today while protecting coastlines and clean water supplies for future generations.

Established in 2007 as a major initiative of UVic, ONC operates ocean observatories for the advancement of science and the benefit of Canada. The observatories collect data on physical, chemical, biological and geological aspects of the ocean over long time periods, supporting research on complex Earth processes in ways not previously possible.