Government of Canada Announces New Career Opportunities and Investments in Ocean and Freshwater Science

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 11, 2016) - Hunter Tootoo, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, accompanied by Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science, today discussed exciting and innovative career opportunities in marine sciences with high school and university students at the Canadian Museum of Nature. As part of an interactive event during Science Odyssey week, the Ministers talked with scientists and students about what the Government of Canada's new investments in ocean and freshwater science will mean to them and all Canadians.

Announced in Budget 2016, the $197 million investment will bring real benefits to Canadians by allowing Fisheries and Oceans Canada to make more informed decisions about our oceans, waterways and fisheries while also creating job opportunities in science.

As part of this investment, Fisheries and Oceans Canada will undertake our largest single recruitment toward restoring ocean science. The Department will hire 135 research scientists, biologists, oceanographers and technicians through a national recruitment campaign. Job postings will be available online on Jobs.gc.ca in the coming days.

The Department will also acquire new and innovative technologies to collect data and share information more efficiently. These technologies include state-of-the-art acoustic and remote sensing technologies and high performance lab equipment to better monitor our fish stocks and changing ocean conditions.

A portion of the funding will also be dedicated to establishing new partnerships and collaborations with universities, environmental organizations, Indigenous groups and other stakeholders, both in Canada and abroad to ensure we have access to the best available science to make decisions about Canada's oceans, lakes and rivers.

Quotes

"Investing in science also means investing in Canadians by hiring more scientists, which will boost our economy and grow our middle class. This is a smart and meaningful investment, which will allow us to make better, science-based decisions to sustain our fisheries and protect our aquatic environment."

- Hunter Tootoo, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

"Today's investment highlights the Government of Canada's commitment to science, evidence-based decision making, and to using science to answer questions that are relevant and important to Canadians. I welcome this investment in aquatic scientists and researchers and look forward to the great research these new federal scientists produce."

- Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science

"Today's announcement renews our commitment to protect the sustainability of our water resources by investing in the research and monitoring critical to keeping our waters safe. Through cutting-edge research, Canada's scientists will continue to gain a better understanding of the health of our oceans and waterways."

- Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick Facts

The $197 million investment will allow for:

• more ecosystems research and improved stock assessments on commercial species and species at risk, including marine mammals and Atlantic and Pacific Salmon, which will provide information for sustainable fisheries management;
• more research on the effects of ecosystem stressors like underwater noise pollution and micro-plastics on our aquatic ecosystems, which will guide marine conservation policies and advice on project developments;
• more research on sustainable aquaculture, including its impacts on wild species; and,
• more research on freshwater ecosystems, specifically the Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg, St. Lawrence River and the Experimental Lakes Area in Northwestern Ontario.

Related Product

New Science Investments at Fisheries and Oceans Canada

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