How flipping crabs revealed a hidden food supply

The Ocean-Climate Building officially opened Jan. 10 with an event acknowledging the funding support to renovate and reconfigure the Queenswood residential care facility. At the opening, the Government of Canada announced $12.6 million over four years for ONC, the anchor group in the building.

World-leading ocean and climate researchers at the University of Victoria have a new centre where they can continue producing the critical knowledge used by communities, governments and industry for sustainable ocean management and to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Over the last 27 years, eight ships and one airplane have been intentionally sunk off the BC coast for the enjoyment of recreational divers—and to enhance habitat for local marine life. Yet artificial reefs remain controversial. Desiree Bulger, a master’s student in UVic's School of Environmental Studies, set out to find some answers.

UVic grad Colton Hash is the recipient of a new Artist-in-Residence program announced by the Faculty of Fine Arts and Ocean Networks Canada, a UVic initiative. The residency will strengthen connections between art and science, and broaden perspectives on major issues ranging from technology and the environment to biodiversity and healthy communities.

Ocean Networks Canada has installed the final set of underwater earthquake early warning sensors off the west coast of Canada, and will mark a significant operational milestone in partnership with Protrans BC, operator of Vancouver’s Canada Line rapid transit system, with a simulated exercise.

Could the world’s next large-scale neutrino detector be built at the bottom of the ocean? This summer, as part of its 2018 Wiring the Abyss expedition, Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) is installing specialized equipment at its deepest site in the northeast Pacific Ocean to assess the location’s suitability for observing neutrinos

Grieving orca highlights plight of endangered whales

UVic historian Jason Colby is a specialist on the history of people and marine mammals in the Pacific Northwest and is available to offer media an expert perspective on the crisis facing the endangered southern resident killer whale population, with the recent loss of the J-pod calf.

Scientists test waters for large-scale physics experiment

ONC is installing specialized instrumentation at Cascadia Basin, 2,700 metres below sea level in the northeast Pacific Ocean, during Expedition 2018: Wiring the Abyss to assess the location’s suitability for observing one of the universe’s most essential and difficult-to-study ingredients—neutrinos.

Array

While many factors have contributed to the dwindling numbers of salmon—historic overfishing, warming ocean temperatures, reduced river levels, hatchery competition, freshwater habitat destruction, and disease—it's difficult to pin down the most significant causes. UVic research Francis Juanes believes that many causes of salmon mortality occur early in life.

Julia Baum, an international rising star in marine conservation ecology and an outspoken advocate for science-based decisions on global issues such as climate change and overfishing, is UVic's newest Steacie Fellow.

UVic marine biologist Lauren McWhinnie is lead author in a new study which warns that vessel disturbance could very likely impact the social behaviours, distribution and long-term survival of marine mammals in the Arctic. They rely on a quiet environment to communicate and forage; but Arctic sea ice is shrinking and therefore shipping traffic is increasing.

ONC and Tsleil-Waututh Nation to monitor Burrard Inlet