Canada’s international position in ocean science in peril

Canada ranks among the top countries in the output and quality of ocean science research, but that position is at risk, according to a report from the Council of Canadian Academies.

The report says that, with no single organisation or government department responsible for managing ocean science, researchers find it difficult to coordinate their activities and pool resources.

“Canada’s proximity to three of the world’s ocean basins provides unlimited opportunities for ocean science research,” said David Strangway, who chaired the panel that wrote the report. “The science is changing quickly and there are many new tools that will come online in the next decade. The challenge will be how to effectively use these technologies, innovate, and protect and use our oceans.”