Ocean Networks Canada will receive a $7.2 million boost to advance its ocean observatory science and technology activities, the Canada Foundation for Innovation announced today.

On May 7, 2018, Ocean Networks Canada and EMSO ERIC signed an important new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Victoria, BC. The MoU formalises and further strengthens the already close collaborative relationship between ONC and EMSO ERIC at both the strategic and working level.

One of Ocean Networks Canada's goals as a Centre of Excellence is to strengthen domestic collaboration nationally. To meet this objective, in 2012 ONC’s Innovation Centre facilitated the creation of the Ocean Technology Alliance Canada (OTAC), linking Canada's regional associations to help grow the economic capacity of Canada’s ocean technology sector. In December 2016, OTAC was formally incorporated as a national association for the ocean technology sector. In August 2017, a new OTAC website was launched to take this Canada-wide blue economy collaboration to the next level.

As shrinking sea ice ushers in a new era for arctic tourism, Ocean Networks Canada’s (ONC) newly expanded Cambridge Bay observatory becomes a vital tool for monitoring ocean health and marine safety.

A small ONC team was in Cambridge Bay from 21-28 August, maintaining and upgrading the observatory and building relationships with the community. Stay tuned for an update on the recently expanded Arctic Ocean monitoring system.

Ocean Networks Canada’s (ONC) Expedition 2016: Wiring the Abyss returned to port on June 25 after 40 days at sea off the west coast of Canada. This ambitious undertaking involved 149 people aboard three ships, and included three remotely operated vehicles (ROV) making 44 dives to deploy, maintain and recover 180 instruments and lay 18 km of fibre-optic cable. The dynamic 24/7 operations engaged viewers across the world via live stream and featured regular Q&A with scientists, educators and engineers. 

Ocean Networks Canada’s preliminary tsunami models for Barkley Sound and the City of Port Alberni were integrated into Emergency Management BC’s first ever full-scale earthquake and tsunami response exercise: Exercise Coastal Response in Port Alberni June 7 - 10.

Today, Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) completed installation of a community ocean observatory and two land-based high-frequency radar stations within Ts’msyen Territory at Prince Rupert, British Columbia. Similar observatories were installed at Kitamaat Village and Campbell River.

Visit the Prince Rupert Community Observatory.

Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) installed a new community observatory at the Discovery Pier in Campbell River, within Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw and Coast Salish territories in the Strait of Georgia.

Now in its second year of funding, the Ocean Networks Canada Smart Ocean™ Systems initiative is making significant progress with plans to install new ocean monitoring stations along the B.C. coast as far north as Prince Rupert.

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Biofouling—unwanted marine growth on submerged instruments—can compromise in situ installations in ocean water by obscuring camera lenses, blocking lights, interfering with sensors and encrusting underwater structures. In 2014, AML Oceanographic Ltd. launched the industry’s first commercially available UV-based antifouling system, UV•Xchange, that protects virtually any submerged surface.

ONC industry partner AML Oceanographic has been named a finalist for Innovative Excellence at the 2014 VIATeC Technology Awards.

Ocean Network Canada's Innovation Centre is gearing up for Oceanology International, the major global event for ocean technology networking, running from March 11 to 14 in London.

Held every two years, Oceanology 2014 features over 525 exhibitors, including a substantial Canadian Pavilion where Innovation Centre director Scott McLean, and Jeff Bosma from the Sensor & Instrumentation team, will be hosting booth P200 and connecting with attendees from over 35 countries.

One of our key mandates at Ocean Networks Canada is to find and encourage highly qualified personnel to sustain and advance ocean industry. At the Centre of Innovation, these young professionals-in-training come from a wide range of disciplines in engineering and science.

In September 2012, U Vic electrical engineering student Nicolai Bailly was brought on board to help develop the world’s first very low frequency (VLF) digital hydrophone calibration system.

We have the unique position of being Canada’s Centre of Excellence in Ocean Observing Systems, with a mission to strengthen Canada’s international leadership role in ocean observing science and technology.