15 years of ocean intelligence

15 years of ocean intelligence for science, society, and industry

Fifteen years ago—on 8 February 2006— the University of Victoria’s Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) pioneered a new approach to ocean science that was no longer limited by weather and ship-time.

These pioneering visionaries imagined a permanent presence in the ocean by wiring the entire Juan de Fuca tectonic plate with sensors to allow a continuous flow of ocean data via the Internet—in essence, listening to the heartbeat of the planet. ONC has been listening to that heartbeat ever since and without pause, even throughout the challenging and unprecedented times of COVID-19, which illustrates how exceptionally agile ONC truly is.

Hosted and owned by the University of Victoria, ONC utilizes its world-leading, real-time technology and digital research infrastructure to deliver “ocean intelligence” that benefits both scientific research and society at large, including setting the stage for Canada to take the lead in guiding the emerging ocean economy. In December 2020, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined 13 other national leaders in signing a progressive global economic development strategy as part of the UN Oceans Panel. This strategy provides the framework for ocean sustainability practices and partnerships over the next decade, including with coastal Indigenous Peoples who have stewarded their marine territories for time immemorial.

ONC continuously supports scientific research that addresses pressing issues—from climate change and storm surge to ocean sustainability and hazard challenges—enhancing our collection of 15+ years of long time series ocean data. As a research facility of national importance, Canada’s $500M investment in ONC’s ocean infrastructure, digital solutions, talent, and collaborations continues to enable sustained, long-term ocean health measurements, all of which remain critical for documenting ocean change now and into the future.

Kate Moran

President & CEO