Joyce Murray, Minister for Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, listens at the opening ceremony of the International Marine Protected Areas Conference (IMPAC5) in Vancouver on February 3, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)
Commonwealth government will invest more than $46 million over the next five years to explore and protect Canada’s seabed.
Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray said understanding of the marine environment was “relatively poor” given that the ocean covers 70% of the earth’s surface.
“It is imperative that Canada understands the ocean better in terms of how it is changing, how it can support ecosystems, and how resources can be managed sustainably.” , Murray said at a press conference in Vancouver at the International Marine Sanctuary Conference on Monday.
She said the study “solidifies Canada’s reputation as an ocean leader recognized around the world for its commitment to science, collaboration, technology and environmental sustainability.”
Funding comes from the government’s $3.5 billion Marine Conservation Program.
Kate Moran, CEO of the University of Victoria Ocean Network Canada, said the $46.5 million will be used to collect data on the deep sea for scientific research. government Make decisions and support Canada’s marine industry.
Ocean Networks Canada will study ocean currents, marine safety and incident response, ocean sound information, and coastal area ocean monitoring to reduce the harm of human noise to marine life, it said. Moran said.
“This new funding reinforces an important national priority of making marine science and community connections a reality,” she said at a press conference.