Inshore observatory maintenance a wrap despite weather challenges.

#ONCabyss Spring 2025 Expedition highlights

See the live data from the upgraded Canadian and Spanish subsea observatory

New ONC partner observatory expands monitoring in Southern Ocean

Four-year study shows sea sponge’s behaviour, dormancy in wild

A sea sponge stakeout

Artist shares the unique opportunities from this art-science fellowship

2024 ONC Artist-in-Residence Megan Harton reflects on "solastalgia" 

StoryMap: Highlights from ONC's Fall 2024 expedition

#ONCabyss Fall 2024 expedition recap

Watch rare underwater footage captured by Ocean Networks Canada observatory

Giant Pacific Octopus battles rough seas during bomb cyclone

Visit our booth, presentations, and posters.

ONC at AGU 2024

Panel discussion with Canada’s Chief Science Advisor Dr. Mona Nemer at the Canadian Science Policy Conference 2024. 

Deep dive into ocean climate solutions

Access footage of historic ships from WWII Battle of Midway 

Explore deep sea maritime archaeology with ONC’s SeaTube

Canada must invest in the blue economy or that ship may sail without us

Federal scientist joins ONC citizen scientists’ ocean monitoring efforts

A vessel of opportunity

Story Map: Highlights from ONC's Summer 2024 Expedition

#ONCabyss Summer 2024 expedition recap

Join us at #OCEANS2024 in Halifax September 23-26

ONC at OCEANS 2024 Halifax

ONC is a partner in the Building Bridges project

Advancing AI for ocean research and climate solutions

Award supports grad students in advancing research using ONC data

Meet the 2024 recipients of the Roy Hyndman Award

ONC Chief Scientist’s legacy includes promotion of “two-eyed seeing” ocean monitoring

Changing STEM TO STEAM: ONC farewells Kim Juniper

Expressing ecological loss and grief through art

Meet ONC Artist-in-Residence for 2024, Megan Harton

The first Roy Hyndman Ocean Observing Award project completed

Using AI to detect orcas in the Salish Sea

Wrapping up 16 years of geohazard investigation in the Fraser River Delta

­­­Delta Dynamics Lab completes final tour of duty

Story Map: Highlights from ONC's Spring 2024 Expedition

#ONCabyss Spring 2024 Expedition Recap

Watch the observatory winterizing operations

ONC Antarctic observatory prepared for polar winter

Early indications of new seafloor forming in the Northeast Pacific Ocean

Endeavour site records the highest level of earthquake activity in 20 years

Autonomous floats adds another dimension to ONC’s observation efforts in the Southern Ocean

ONC expands Antarctic monitoring with deep ocean Argo floats

Join us at OSM24 in New Orleans February 18-23

ONC at Ocean Sciences Meeting 2024

Public panel discussion at AAAS Annual Meeting, Friday, February 16, 2024.

Ocean-based carbon removal solutions to combat the climate crisis

Canada/Spain partnership monitoring the rapidly changing Antarctica

Data now flowing from new Antarctic Ocean observatory

When the path to climate change solutions is paved with fossil fuels

Why ONC is carbon neutral

Visit our booth, presentations, and posters. 

ONC at AGU 2023

Story Map: Highlights from 2023 ONC's Fall Expedition

2023 #ONCabyss Fall Expedition Recap

2024 Artist-in-Residence Program call for proposals

ONC and Running Tide partnership aims to help combat climate change


ONC’s deep sea observatory supporting ocean-based carbon dioxide removal research

Neutrino telescope hardware enroute to Germany for pre-launch checks

Studying the origins of the universe, under the sea

Story Map: Highlights from ONC's Summer 2023 Expedition

#ONCabyss Summer 2023 Expedition Recap

International Pacific Marine Educators Network gathered in Victoria

ONC hosts IPMEN 2023 Conference

Kate Moran honoured for ocean science leadership

ONC president and CEO appointed as Officer of the Order of Canada

Join us at CZC June 11-15 in downtown Victoria

ONC at Coastal Zone Conference

2023 ONC artist-in-residence explores what happens after whale death

The science and mystery of a deep-sea whale fall

The ONC “Ocean Titans” film launched on June 8, World Ocean Day


ONC featured as global leader in World Ocean Council docuseries

Ocean Networks Canada partners with Ocean Week Victoria for education, conservation, and fun June 2-11, 2023.

Greater Victoria 10-day ocean celebration returns this June

Story Map: Highlights from ONC’s March 2023 Expedition

Continuous improvements for quality data collection

Innovative research that improves ocean observing

Meet the first recipients of the Roy Hyndman Award

New hazard assessment combines ocean science & Indigenous knowledge

Minutes-to-hours: arrival times for tsunami on BC coast

Our 11th Relative: tour starts during Tsunami Preparedness Week 2023

New documentary explores history of West Coast tsunamis from Indigenous perspective

Explore this extraordinary west coast underwater world with ONC

Have your say on a new proposed Marine Protected Area

Artist-in-Residence Colin Malloy’s own words and music: video

Ocean music from deep-sea data

ONC and Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council partner in new permanent exhibition

Discover Pacific sea life in the Canadian Museum of Nature

Supporting Indigenous sovereignty in ocean data

Decolonizing data

Meet ocean scientist and artist, Moronke Harris 

Exploring deep ocean hydrothermals

ONC welcomes Fisheries and Oceans Canada investment

Advancing Canada’s science and innovation for ocean protection

Kate Moran Bestowed Lifetime AAAS Fellows Honour

AAAS Fellows Announced

Ocean Monitoring for Marine Protected Areas

ONC at IMPAC5 Vancouver

Oil & water fuels Ocean Networks Canada artistic residency

Revisit highlights of our ONC-led or supported undersea coastal and deep-ocean exploration during the 2022 expedition season.

Expeditions Recap 2022: #ONCAbyss

A pathway towards empowering Indigenous coastal leadership and comprehensive ocean observation

Two-eyed seeing: Embracing the power of Indigenous knowledge for a healthy and sustainable Ocean

Explore ocean sector resources and knowledge opportunities

New online toolkits for students & educators

ONC at AGU 2022

Apply for the Roy Hyndman Ocean Observing Award by 22 January 2023.

New ocean research award for graduate students

ONC’s seismic sensor network gave 35+ seconds’ warning of Tofino earthquake to Victoria and Vancouver.

An earthquake notification system for British Columbia shows its value for public safety

Meet community members and scientists behind the Cambridge Bay observatory.

Cambridge Bay Observatory: the forerunner to community ocean monitoring nationwide

ONC at OCEANS 2022 Hampton Roads

Paving the way for partnerships that empower coastal community leadership in ocean science.

Celebrating 10 years, Cambridge Bay Observatory 

Explore 10 years of ocean observing with Ocean Networks Canada and the community of Cambridge Bay. 

Timeline of the Cambridge Bay Observatory

Assessing the risk of future earthquakes in the Cascadia region off the Pacific west coast.


The CLOCKS expedition - Summer 2022

ONC is advancing projects in pursuit of healthier oceans, science that promotes ocean resilience, and a citizenry engaged with the oceans’ role in supporting life on this planet.

ONC and the UN Ocean Decade

Wave glider retrieval advances ONC’s pioneering geodesy project

Monitoring for megathrust earthquakes

Adaptation in the face of human-derived threats

Researcher in Residence: Claudio Lo Iacono and cold-water corals

Meet ONC Artist-in-Residence for 2022, musician Colin Malloy

Cool new features & tools for science, society and industry

Explore the new ONC website

On World Oceans Day, join us in celebrating the crucial role that the ocean plays in our lives.

Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean

Facilitating better, reproducible and traceable science.

DynaCITE project promotes sea-change in big data research

The universe—not the sky—is the limit when it comes to science innovation at Ocean Networks Canada. 

ONC provides ideal conditions for a new neutrino telescope

ONC as a proud advocate for diversity in science, is expanding opportunities for women and girls in science with a new national project, the #OceanDecade Challenge.

#OceanDecade Challenge: cultivating diversity in science

In 2021, the onset of low oxygen water was the earliest in 35 years, lasted longer, was anomalously low, and covered a larger extent, reaching north into Canadian waters where hypoxia is rare. 

Summer 2021 low oxygen event in the northeast Pacific

We’re celebrating ONC's 16th birthday with a recap of our 15th anniversary achievements, and a look forward to what’s next for ONC.

Sweet 16, #ONC15 story map and 2030 Strategic Plan

Nine thousand kilometres from the Tonga volcano, the ONC offshore sensors gathered a variety of data, informing NOAA’s Pacific Tsunami Warning Center alerts that go out to countries and territories in the Pacific and Caribbean regions.

Real-time tsunami data from the Tonga volcano

Dr. Verena Tunnicliffe was appointed as an officer of the Order of Canada for her outstanding contributions to ocean sciences. 

Ocean Networks Canada’s founding visionary appointed to Order of Canada 

Kate Moran, president and CEO of ONC, illuminates how ONC research can both help with the carbon fight and contribute to a burgeoning and climate-positive blue economy that links aspects of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Expert Q&A on ocean-based carbon removal

30 September 2021 has been named the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a recognized federal statutory holiday. The University of Victoria and Ocean Networks Canada are committed to building better and more meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities, and will formally recognize this day by closing for a day of learning and reflection. 

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

On Aug 26, ROVs Hercules & Argus became detached from the cable connecting them to E/V <i>Nautilus</i>. A search and rescue plan is underway to recover the ROVs, which are believed to be tethered together on the seafloor at a known depth/location.

SHIP UPDATE #ONCabyss Expedition 2021

Every year we undertake three or four expeditions to maintain and upgrade the deep sea ocean observing infrastructure that Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) manages on behalf of all Canadians. From 6 August – 2 September, a nine-person ONC team will spend almost four weeks onboard state-of-the-art exploration vessel EV Nautilus, owned and operated by Ocean Exploration Trust. This will be our sixth major expedition in collaboration with this exceptional team.

Gearing up for #ONCabyss Expedition 2021 6 August – 2 September

The Pacific Seamounts Expedition 2021 was a resounding success. 

Discovering unexplored deep-sea worlds: highlights from the Pacific Seamounts Expedition 2021

Haida Nation and ONC partnership expands small vessel traffic monitoring in territorial waters

Ocean Networks Canada’s Community Fishers app offers vessel operators, mariners, and fishers an opportunity to collect water column data by using a conductivity-temperature-depth instrument connected to a mobile device. 

Community Fishers: enabling citizen scientists to collect their own ocean data

On 15 June 2021, a science team will embark on a two-week expedition to uncover the mysteries of Canada’s deepest seamounts in the Offshore Pacific Marine Protected Area of Interest. 

Pacific Seamounts Expedition 2021

Although World Ocean Day is traditionally on 8 June every year, celebrating the ecosystem that covers more than 70% of our planet requires more than a single day. Where ever in the world you are, there are a broad range of exciting online World Ocean Week events organized by local, national, and global initiatives.

World Ocean Week 2021: One Ocean, One Climate, One Future, Together

ONC is proud to announce our membership in the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada 50 – 30 Challenge, a collaboration between the Government of Canada, businesses, & diversity organizations. 

Ocean Networks Canada joins the 50 – 30 Challenge

As Ocean Networks Canada’s (ONC) second artist-in-residence, Dennis Gupa is using the tools of theatre and drama to help bring about social change and build a sense of community in an attempt to grapple with the impact of climate change on the world’s island nations.

Using theatre and traditional ways of knowing to address climate action

In celebration of Earth Day, ONC is thrilled to announce a significant step toward fully carbon neutral operations by purchasing certified carbon offsets for all workplace, business travel & ship-related emissions for 2020.

ONC’s Carbon Neutral Operations

Today, the Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition (COLC) launched Land, Water, Ocean, Us: A Canadian Ocean Literacy Strategy, a collaborative framework for action to advance ocean literacy in Canada over the course of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). The Strategy is accompanied by the Implementation Plan: Pathways for Collaboration.

The Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition launches Land, Water, Ocean, Us: A Canadian Ocean Literacy Strategy

A new partnership between Ocean Networks Canada and the Canadian Consortium for Ocean Drilling ensures Canada’s membership in the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) continues until 2023, with the support and participation of 10 Canadian universities as well as Natural Resources Canada.

Ocean Networks Canada supports Canada’s participation in the International Ocean Discovery Program

Fuelled by scientific evidence, coordinated efforts and transformative action, Canada has joined other nations in developing a roadmap to a “blue economy,” which strikes a balance between economic growth and sustainability. Kate Moran, president and CEO of Ocean Networks Canada, explains why Canada is well-positioned for success to show cooperative leadership in the global blue economy through ocean intelligence and progressive, ocean-based industries and programs.

Expert Q&A on Canada’s growing blue economy

Fifteen years ago, ONC made history as the world’s first large-scale, interactive, real-time portal into the ocean. On 8 February 2006, a large underwater telecommunications power bar—known as a node—was lowered to the bottom of Saanich Inlet’s coastal fjord off Vancouver Island, enabling a flow of continuous, real-time data to the surface for science, society and industry. This feat of engineering marked the dawn of the Internet-connected ocean, enabling us to advance our planet’s understanding of the ocean—or ocean intelligence—at a critical time.

Celebrating 15 years of ocean intelligence 

As part of ONC's ongoing commitment to leading the way in data stewardship, we recently endorsed a new set of best practices for digital data repositories. 

Building TRUST to be FAIR: data stewardship for a sustainable ocean economy

Deep in the ocean off Vancouver Island’s west coast, a gas associated with climate warming is making its way to the surface. Nitrous oxide is a product of plankton decomposition, pulled to the surface in areas where deep-sea waters migrate upwards in what’s known as coastal upwelling. Where is it coming from? That’s a question that University of Victoria PhD student Brett Jameson is exploring, in collaboration with Ocean Networks Canada and the Canadian Healthy Oceans Network.

Oceans link to climate change

Ocean Networks Canada’s cabled observatory in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut has been gathering real-time oceanographic data since 2012. This year, the data reveals that sea ice freeze-up occurred on 27 October, the latest date in eight years of monitoring the Arctic Ocean. By comparison, since 2012 the mean or average date of freeze-up is 5 October, a full three weeks earlier than 2020.

Three weeks late: Cambridge Bay sea ice freeze-up 2020 

Advancing tech and science to #knowtheocean: Story Map

On Monday, 19 October—following a magnitude 7.5 earthquake off the coast of Alaska—British Columbia coastal communities held their breath awaiting confirmation of a possible tsunami. Fortunately, the strike-slip earthquake caused little damage and the resulting wave was minimal, but the episode served as a poignant reminder of the need to prepare for tsunamis.

Tsunami Monitoring and Public Safety for At-Risk Coastal Communities

Research that demonstrates low oxygen levels in the depths of Saanich Inlet might seem like concerning news. But on a planet facing climate change, there is a silver lining: specialized organisms can thrive in the depths of Saanich Inlet, and when they die, they will not decompose due to the lack of oxygen. This reduces the amount of carbon that cycles back to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, a powerful greenhouse gas.

New research explains why Saanich Inlet is good for the climate

In late June, the orca community’s three extended family groups or pods were spotted off the coast of Vancouver Island. This year a total of 73 orcas—made up of J, K, and L pods—have returned to a quieter ocean due to the COVID-19 shutdown. 

Endangered southern resident killer whales return to a quieter Salish Sea

 This year, World Oceans Day is uniting action to grow the global movement to #ProtectOurHome, calling on world leaders to protect 30% of our blue planet by 2030. 

Celebrate World Oceans Week with ONC and partners

A new study using ONC's hydrophone data reveals a significant reduction in underwater noise during the COVID-19 shutdown, which may be good news for endangered southern resident killer whales. 

Hushed seas: monitoring underwater noise during COVID-19 

One of ONC’s newest data stewardship initiatives developed over the last year is MINTED (Making Identifiers Necessary to Track Evolving Data), funded by the CANARIE Network. Due for public release later this month, this exciting project addresses the growing need to cite research datasets that change over time.

Coming soon: MINTED dynamic citation tool

ONC’s new researcher in residence program invites global researchers across basic and applied science to advance interdisciplinary research using our ocean observatory systems and 14 years of archived data. Craig Smith, from the University of Hawaii, is a researcher in residence at ONC until June 2020 where he will focus his research on benthic ecology using whale falls.

Researcher in Residence: Craig Smith on whale falls

In March, Natural Resources Canada & ONC embarked on an annual spring expedition aboard CCGS John P. Tully to maintain infrastructure at observatory sites in the southern Salish Sea & offshore locations.

Sensors, science and sampling: March 2020 expedition highlights 

Ocean Networks Canada is helping to build earthquake resilience in Tofino—and elsewhere in British Columbia—by integrating the latest science and technology into tsunami planning efforts and improving awareness of the risk. 

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