A Year of Ocean Action: Our Top 10 Highlights
As 2025 draws to a close, we’re reflecting on a year of action and inspiring progress for our ocean. From groundbreaking research to global collaborations and community-driven initiatives, Ocean Wise has been at the forefront of solutions for a healthier, flourishing ocean.
Join us as we count down the top 10 moments that made waves this year!
Scaling Kelp Restoration in BC
In 2025 we expanded our kelp nursery at the Pacific Science Enterprise Centre (PSEC), doubling its size over the last year to accelerate restoration efforts along our coastlines. This milestone marks a significant step toward restoring kelp forests at scale, combatting climate change and biodiversity loss through nature-based solutions. By increasing nursery capacity, we can grow and transplant more kelp, a critical marine habitat that supports countless species and helps absorb carbon from the atmosphere.
Kelp forests are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth, and their decline threatens ocean health and coastal resilience. This achievement has been made possible thanks to thousands of donors who support our work every month – and it’s just the beginning of a larger vision to regenerate kelp ecosystems across Canada and beyond.
Protecting Whales Got Smarter
This summer we launched a revitalized Whale Report app, empowering individuals and commercial mariners to work together in real time to protect whales from ship strike and support critical marine conservation.
Thanks in part to this new app our collision-prevention tool is on the brink of expanding beyond North America. Building on our success on Canada’s West Coast, we have partnered with Trelleborg Marine Infrastructure to deliver real-time alerts to pilots in northwestern Australia – one of the country’s busiest export hubs and a critical stopover for migrating humpback whales from June to October.
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Climate Action in Atlantic Canada
In partnership with the PEI Public Library System we launched immersive Discovery Kits blending science, Indigenous knowledge, and local climate realities to turn eco-anxiety into real-world action. Each kit offers an exciting, hands-on learning experience designed to spark curiosity and build climate literacy in learners from kindergarten to Grade 12.
Thanks to funding from PEI’s Climate Challenge Fund the kits are available to borrow for island residents.
Invest your Time, Money and Voice
One out of every two breaths come from the ocean. It provides food and livelihood for billions around the world. Yet, the health of the ocean is declining. We need to act now while the ocean can still rebound to ensure strong ROI (real ocean impact)!
Maurice brought the message of real ocean impact to audiences across Canada. In movie theatres, on tv and online we hope you had a chance to meet Maurice!
Advancing Small-Scale Fisheries
Small-scale fisheries account for 40 per cent of seafood harvested globally and employing 90 per cent of workers in the seafood sector. But only eight per cent of global small-scale fisheries have been assessed for sustainability.
Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Sustainable Development Goals Funding Program, Ocean Wise launched the Advancing Sustainable Development in Fishery-Reliant Communities project this year. Working with four Indigenous-led, small-scale fisheries in British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Nunavut we began co-creating a new assessment methodology that blends Indigenous Knowledge with Western science.
As we wrap up 2025, two of the four fisheries have already achieved Ocean Wise Recommended status following full assessments. This project marks a milestone towards recognizing Canadian small-scale fisheries, advancing their sustainability, and increasing access to local, sustainable seafood for Canadians.
Baby on Board: Spotting Killer Whale Pregnancies from Above
In February we released new research, published in Scientific Reports, describing a first-of-its-kind method of accurately detecting different pregnancy stages in killer whales using drone images, including early pregnancy. Understanding the reproductive success of whales is an important way of monitoring how vulnerable different populations are to threats such as vessel disturbance and food scarcity.
Prior to the introduction of this new method researchers have not been able to reliably detect early-stage pregnancy (before 11 months in a typical 17-month pregnancy for killer whales) without fecal-based hormonal analysis. This new approach promises to enable researchers to identify whale pregnancy earlier and at a significantly reduced labour cost, allowing experts to take action to improve outcomes for calves earlier and more often!
Amener notre dôme de mer au Québec
Building on our commitment to be a truly national, and globally impactful, ocean organization we brought our Sea Dome to Quebec for the first time in 2025 with a roster of French and bilingual programming!
Over 100 days we traveled more than 1,200km visiting schools, camps, and community events across Quebec. Collectively we saw nearly 10,000 people sharing marine artifacts, our immersive ocean experience and interactive activities with marine experts!
Celebrating our Corporate Supporters
In 2025 we were grateful to be recipients of funding from a number of businesses who believe in investing in our ocean. Whether directly or through 1% for the Planet we had partners join us to raise awareness of the critical need to restore kelp forests, support ocean education around the country, and collect data on pollution through our Shoreline Champions programs.
Many thanks to our partners this year including: Trufflepig Travel, Ecochit. Nature’s Way, Whitehaven Wines, Foamers Folly Brewing, Biotherm, Kara Yoo, RBC and Tru Earth!
Making Waves on the World Stage
This year we brought optimistic ocean restoration messaging to key conservation moments around the globe.
- In June we were at the United Nations Ocean Conference bringing together small-scale fishers and global leaders to highlight the critical role of Indigenous-led and small-scale fisheries in building sustainable blue food systems.
- In September we were at New York Climate Week with Lonely Whale and Alpine group, together with senior brand, philanthropic and NGO leaders, we explored the enabling conditions needed for innovative upstream solutions to address the challenge of plastic microfibers across the value chain.
- In October we joined conservation leaders from around the globe in Abu Dhabi for the IUCN’s World Conservation Congress. We brought together leaders in whale conservation to discuss ship strikes and its solutions, as well as sharing the incredible stories from Canadian youth with Parks Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Building a Community That Cares!!
Rebuilding a flourishing ocean takes a team of passionate individuals working together. Your dedication and support inspire our staff and volunteers every step of the way!
A heartfelt thank you to the nearly 1,000 youth who participated in our programs this year, the over 100,000 people following us on social media, and the 120,000 people who receive our monthly newsletter, Ocean Matters!
Our community of ocean lovers is strong and growing! Together, we’re protecting whales, restoring fish stocks, planting kelp, addressing plastic pollution and engaging the next generation of ocean leaders. Thank you for all your support!
Posted December 8, 2025 by Nic Schulz
