Photo: April Bencze

Oceans

We advocate for better management and protection of coastal waters to help endangered species and restore biodiversity.

We can help fragile marine species and ecosystems recover and thrive

Oceans are vital to human survival and contribute to our prosperity and quality of life. They produce more than half the world’s oxygen and are the largest carbon sink. And they offer yet unknown potential for medical discoveries.

But we know more about Mars than the immense scope of ocean life here on Earth. We’ve only explored about five per cent of the underwater world. Less than a half-century ago, no one imagined the multitude of species that could live around deep-sea hydrothermal vents.

Oceans cover 71 per cent of Earth’s surface and hold 99 per cent of its biosphere. We scarcely understand them, so we better pay closer attention to what we do with them.

Scott Wallace, Former Senior Research Scientist

Photo: Center for Whale Research

Canada’s oceans need your support

Charting a course to healthy oceans requires a clear plan. Help restore biodiversity in Canada’s coastal waters.

Help safeguard ocean wildlife

Canada’s fascinating, surprising and diverse oceans

Swaying sea grasses, massive Chinook salmon, leaping orcas, treacherous icebergs, teeming estuaries, mysterious glass sponge reefs, colourful nudibranchs, spawning herring, bubbling humpback whales, blooms of plankton, tufted puffins, steaming hydrothermal vents… the list of wonders found in Canada’s marine ecosystems could stretch on forever.

With the longest coastline in the world, Canada holds a global responsibility to steward its vast marine environment.

Ocean facts

01

Fascinating

A drop of sea water typically contains millions of viruses and bacteria.

02

Surprising

Canada’s coastal waters are home to hydrothermal vents, glass sponge reefs, coral, blue whales, blue angel sea slugs and ‘electric’ torpedo rays.

03

Diverse

Canada has the world’s longest coastline and is one of only two countries that borders three oceans. (The other is Russia.)

Our work

Bringing together sound science and public education, we work to protect and restore coastal ecosystems.

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