Ocean Networks Canada

Every year ONC sets out to sea in the northeast Pacific for a few weeks, equipped with remotely operated vehicles (ROV), ocean observing instruments and platforms, and a long list of to-do’s. Working around the clock, the crack team—scientists, engineers, ROV pilots, navigators, communicators, and ship’s crew—contend with unpredictable weather and the mighty abyss to maintain and upgrade ONC’s deep sea ocean observing infrastructure. Wiring the Abyss is a critical undertaking to help us #knowtheocean, and no-one even gets wet.

As we celebrate Canada’s 150 years of confederation, we must do so with full knowledge and pride that our country has been home to Indigenous peoples with advanced governing structures for tens of thousands of years. To kick off Canada’s sesquicentennial on the west coast, ONC channeled #Canada150 celebrations into the deep sea during its most recent expedition aboard exploration vessel (E/V) Nautilus.

Modern science is starting to take amateur scientists’ observations seriously. The impressive performance of over 500 citizen scientists who signed on for a study counting sablefish off the Tofino coast is heartening proof that we can all play a part in understanding the ocean, says one of the Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) scientists who co-authored the study.