About the Centre of Expertise for Aquatic Habitat Research (CAHR)

The Centre of Expertise for Aquatic Habitat Research (CAHR) was created in 2008 to coordinate and conduct research on habitat and population linkages that exist between habitat productive capacity, population productivity, ecosystem resilience, and the implications of these linkages for management.

Like other DFO Science Centres of Expertise (COE), CAHR is a virtual centre. It focuses on strategic research essential to understand the effects of anthropogenic and natural changes to habitat quantity and quality in freshwater, estuarine, and marine environments.

CAHR bridges regional and sectoral interests to broader national habitat initiatives oriented towards practical and applicable results. The emphasis of CAHR, population – habitat linkages, is based within Fisheries and Oceans Canada Research Priority Area #2 in its Five-Year Research Agenda.

The research activities of CAHR are currently focused on three broad research areas, as they pertain to habitat and population linkages, including:

Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) in support of the International Governance Strategy (IGS)
Cumulative effects in support of the Habitat Management Program
Mitigation and compensation measures in support of the Habitat Management Program

While focusing on these initiatives, CAHR strives to increase understanding of human and natural influences on habitat, develop methodological tools, and facilitate communications.

See CAHR Terms of Reference for additional information.