Climate change is pushing the Canadian Arctic to become one of the fastest changing ecosystems on the planet. Due to rising ocean temperatures and melting sea ice, Northern waters are becoming accessible to outsiders; humans, vessels, and marine life. Not only are new species making their way to the Canadian Arctic (like B.C. Salmon!). … Continued
Ocean Wise and Northern fishers to co-develop and test a new framework for sustainable seafood assessments A new project from Ocean Wise aims to support community-based ‘small-scale’ Arctic fishers in becoming recognized for their sustainable fishing practices. Building on existing partnerships with Nunavut-based fisheries organizations and Arctic communities through the Ikaarvik program (an Ocean Wise-administered … Continued
Ocean Wise has produced the most comprehensive study to date on Arctic Ocean microplastics. And the results are troubling. Synthetic fibers make up approximately 92% of microplastic pollution found in near-surface seawater samples from across the Arctic Ocean. And about 73% of those fibers are polyester and resemble fibers used in clothing and textiles. These … Continued
By Dr. Valeria VergaraOcean Wise Marine Mammal Conservation Research Program In September 2001, during the aftermath of 9/11, much of the coastal ocean around North America was, for the first time in decades, quiet. In response to the terror attack, all non-essential boat traffic was halted along many shipping routes. What did this respite from … Continued
By Kristin Westdal, Arctic field research director for Oceans North, and Eric Solomon, director of Arctic programs, Ocean Wise The problem of plastic and microplastic pollution is in the news almost weekly and is a growing concern around the world. The Arctic is no exception. From fishing gear on the shores of Svalbard, Norway to … Continued
Polar bears sure are getting a lot of attention these days. In fact, today is International Polar Bear Day. We think that’s fine. After all, polar bears are amazing animals, at once cute and deadly, and arguably an icon of the Arctic. But are these unwitting spokesanimals for climate change the only things in the … Continued
I’m in a village called Salluit, in a region of northern Quebec called Nunavik, on the edge of the Hudson Strait. It’s -24 C. There’s snow on the ground. The ocean is frozen. I’m just south of the Arctic Circle, but am I in the Arctic? The answer to that question depends on how we … Continued
It’s not every day that we have reason to celebrate good news about the ocean, but this week, we do. A new international fishing agreement protecting the Arctic high seas is a game-changer for marine life and the Indigenous peoples who rely on it for social, cultural, economic and nutritional sustenance. On Thursday November 30, … Continued
This past August, four Ocean Wise divers motored to a remote Arctic islet to conduct a BioBlitz survey. A BioBlitz is a snapshot of Canada’s biodiversity, recorded by scientists and citizen scientists, to mark the country’s 150th anniversary. As one of 35 Bioblitz events coordinated by the Canadian Wildlife Federation, and made possible in part … Continued
By John Nightingale, President & CEO, Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre Before breakfast this morning, a boat-load of us took a trip to shore in the Zodiacs. We left early, around six o’clock, because our guides and our expedition leader, Aaron Lawton of One Oceans Expeditions, expected the winds to come up later in the … Continued
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Ocean Wise is based in the traditional and unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We work across Turtle Island and beyond, supporting Indigenous peoples in their vital work on ocean conservation and biodiversity whenever possible or as we are invited to.