Oceans North

Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition is inviting you to share your connections with the ocean and local waterways. Be part of a national conversation on ocean health, conservation, and community well-being. Tomorrow, Aug. 30, is the final day to fill it out! It only takes 15-20 minutes, and your voice matters. colcoalition.ca/survey

The Churchill Marine Observatory is officially open! “Today is a day about wisdom, passion and vision,” said Roseann O'Reilly Runte, President and CEO of the Canada Foundation for Innovation/Fondation canadienne pour l'innovation. Oceans North was grateful to be here for this important milestone in Arctic science. The facility will help researchers better understand the marine environment of Hudson Bay and answer questions that matter to the communities that surround it.

Last week, the federal government released its Draft Ocean Noise Strategy. The strategy, which began development in 2020, represents a positive step toward mitigating noise's impacts on the marine environment. “Noise from industrial activity such as shipping is already having an impact on marine life and communities that depend on it,” says Kristin Westdal, Oceans North’s science director. “Addressing this threat will require listening to and learning from the people who are most affected—as well as taking concrete actions to manage it.” You can read our full statement on our site: https://lnkd.in/gxqQyjj6

At a meeting of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) last month, President Surangel Whipps Jr. of Palau reminded delegates that “we have the power to leave a legacy of respect and reverence for the ocean. In the spirit of unity and stewardship, we must rise to the challenge and protect the deep seabed for the future of our children, for the health of our planet, and for the enduring prosperity of all humankind.” Over the past three years we’ve witnessed a radical shift at the ISA, one that reflects President Whipps’ message and was exemplified at the July meeting. For most of the ISA’s life, it operated in obscurity under the assumption that deep sea mining was inevitable. Now, the meetings are the nexus of an existential debate: should we mine the international seabed at all?

Join CPAWS · SNAP Canada New Brunswick, SeaBlue Canada, and Nature Conservancy of Canada/Conservation de la nature Canada at Johnson's Mills on Thursday, August 22 for a nature walk to explore the land and seascape of the Chignecto Isthmus located beside the beautiful Bay of Fundy! A family-friendly event where all are welcome, you can visit the CPAWS website for more details and to register: https://lnkd.in/eUj2SXKe

Support Indigenous-led conservation in northern Manitoba! The Seal River Watershed Alliance is working with Parks Canada to collect feedback from the public on creating an Indigenous Protected Area and national park reserve. You can join the conversation by filling out a short survey (until August 23rd): https://lnkd.in/gXXfA-wY

We are currently awaiting the release of Canada's underwater noise strategy. Thanks to human activity, the ocean is becoming louder with increased shipping traffic, marine construction, coastal urbanization, and expanding resource extraction, including seismic testing. Our Science Director, Kristin Westdal, recently spoke to SeaBlue Canada about the impact of underwater noise. “One of the big issues with underwater noise is that it masks [animal] sounds, making it more difficult for them to communicate with each other." Read more: https://lnkd.in/gtGj_rD8

Meet Talia, Siyang, and Shruti, the Oceans North research interns whose projects on fishing vessels, hybrid propulsion systems, and ferry electrification are driving innovations in marine decarbonization: https://lnkd.in/gAjrSVCZ

Marine climate risk management requires more hands on deck than ever before. Yet the scientific evidence necessary to make informed policy decisions and urgent actions is often inaccessible. Here’s why: 1. Information on climate impact is often made with researchers and experts in mind, making it difficult to interpret and reach people beyond the scientific community.  2. While physical coastal risk indices exist, a comprehensive measure quantifying risks to marine species, ecosystems, and human communities is lacking. What if we told you that an international team of scientists is working to bridge this gap? Oceans North has partnered with Vizzuality to design the Climate Risk Index for Biodiversity (CRIB), a groundbreaking tool designed to democratize ocean climate risk assessment. Read this article to find out how the team is working towards building an innovative solution for marine biodiversity and climate-resilient fisheries: https://lnkd.in/geEjYwJi #climaterisk #riskindex #democratization #datatools

Long before the world’s largest congregation of belugas became a major tourist attraction in the Churchill River estuary on Western Hudson Bay, the community’s Indigenous residents had a special relationship with these whales that dates back centuries. A new storytelling project sponsored by Oceans North is gathering Indigenous and community knowledge about belugas from Inuit, Dene, Cree, and Metis residents of Churchill as part of an ongoing effort to record Indigenous perspectives that reflect the long co-existence of people and belugas at Churchill and Western Hudson Bay. Updates on the storytelling project were shared during the “Honouring the Water” conference and gathering in Churchill last month. The event opened with a water ceremony conducted by Cree elder Susan Kobliski and thirteen local women (pictured here is the group after the ceremony, admiring an eagle flying by). If you’d like to learn more about the storytelling project and more about Churchill, check out our blog: https://lnkd.in/gJAWJBpZ