Feds invests $1.2M to understand Canada’s coastal marine ecosystems through science
by CM Staff
The project is part of the $50.8 million Coastal Environmental Baseline Program
OTTAWA — On July 7, The government of Canada announced that they would be investing $1.2 million to support the development of a web-based scientific data management system for integrating and sharing ocean science data.
The project, led by the St. Lawrence Global Observatory, will organize, manage, and disseminate data from coastal environmental baseline projects conducted by Canadian organizations. The Observatory will work with 39 partners from British Columbia, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nunavut and Newfoundland and Labrador.
The data to be collected from all three coasts will come from projects in six environments that are likely to be affected by increasing vessel traffic. This initiative will establish data management standards that will be useful to Canada’s marine science community.
“If we are to succeed in protecting 25% of Canada’s oceans by 2025, we must have access to the very best science and research. That’s exactly why we are proud to fund this important project led by the St. Lawrence Global Observatory,” said Bernadette Jordan, minister of fisheries, oceans and the Canadian coast guard, in a prepared statement. “It will increase our understanding of Canada’s coastal ecosystems and empower our government to take informed and effective action as we work to protect our oceans for generations to come.”
The project is part of the $50.8 million Coastal Environmental Baseline Program established under the Oceans Protection Plan. The Program supports advancing coastal data collection initiatives and relies on collaboration between Fisheries and Oceans Canada scientists, Indigenous and coastal communities, non-governmental organizations, academia and other local partners.
