Centres of Expertise

DFO Science Centres of Expertise (COEs) focus on areas where it is more effective to partner both internally and externally with academia, other departments and other governments to achieve results. Some of these use regionally based infrastructure and others are virtual, focusing experts from many locations on specific projects.

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• Centre for Aquatic Animal Health Research and Diagnostics (CAAHRD)

  A virtual network of experts with a secretariat in Moncton, New Brunswick that provides the regulatory research necessary to support the National Aquatic Animal Health Program (NAAHP).

• Centre for Aquatic Biotechnology Regulatory Research (CABRR)

  The objective of CABRR is to generate scientific information to inform the regulation of aquatic organism products of biotechnology (e.g. genetically modified fish) under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. Data generated by this COE provides advice to regulators including the nature and breadth of phenotypic changes that can occur by genetic modification, and identifies critical biological and environmental variables and uncertainties requiring evaluation in the conduct of environmental risk assessments.

• Centre for Aquatic Habitat Research (CAHR)

  CAHR will coordinate and conduct research on habitat and population linkages, specifically aimed at better understanding the linkages between habitat productive capacity, population productivity, ecosystem resilience, and the implications of these linkages for management. CAHR is a virtual centre focusing on strategic research essential to understand the effects of anthropogenic and natural changes to habitat quantity and quality in freshwater, estuarine, and marine environments.

• Centre of Expertise for Aquatic Risk Assessment (CEARA)

  Based in Burlington, Ontario, CEARA focuses on the principal pathways that transport aquatic invasive species to freshwater and marine ecosystems in Canada; characterizes the factors that influence establishment success of these species; and constructs risk assessment models that will direct future management policies.

• Centre of Expertise in Cold-water Coral and Sponge Reefs (CECCSR)

  Located at the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, the CECCSR has a mandate to coordinate the Government of Canada's approach to coral and sponge conservation. The CoE provides strategic advice to senior management, supports regional, national, and international conservation efforts, and develops tools to improve coral and sponge conservation in Canada. In order to deliver this mandate, the Centre has built a strong network within DFO as well as Parks Canada and Natural Resources Canada.

• Centre of Expertise on Marine Mammals (CEMAM)

  CEMAM links marine mammal experts across Canada with a secretariat located at the Maurice Lamontagne Institute in Mont-Joli, Quebec. Researchers work on a wide range of projects to obtain information on the dynamics, ecology and health of marine mammals.

• Centre of Expertise for Traditional Ecological Knowledge (CETEK)

  CETEK is a virtual centre designed to guide DFO on effective processes for incorporating local and traditional ecological knowledge into integrated ocean management. The health of Canada's oceans is enhanced by using traditional knowledge to inform policy related to complex coastal-marine activities such as research, commercial development, shipping, tourism, food security and northern sovereignty.

• Centre of Expertise on Hydropower Impacts on Fish and Fish Habitat (CHIF)

  Through partnerships with the Canadian hydroelectric industry and in collaboration with academia, CHIF sets national priorities and coordinates research activities of the department on the impacts of hydropower on fish and fish habitat. Cumulative impacts on the ecosystems in freshwater as well as in the coastal and marine environments are considered.

• Centre for Ocean Model Development for Applications (COMDA)

  The Centre for Ocean Model Development for Applications (COMDA) is coordinating DFO's development of computer models for providing improved and increased information on ocean and marine ecosystem variability off Canada. COMDA's activities include collaboration with Environment Canada, other agencies and academic researchers in the development of a national forecasting capability for ocean temperature, currents and salinity in conjunction with atmospheric weather and sea ice.

• Centre for Offshore Oil, Gas and Energy Research (COOGER)

  A virtual centre of expertise that coordinates research efforts into the environmental and oceanographic impacts of offshore petroleum exploration, production and transportation. COOGER focuses on sharing expertise and resources in an international setting.

• National Centre for Arctic Aquatic Research Excellence (NCAARE)

  NCAARE has a mandate to increase knowledge of Arctic marine and freshwater ecosystems. NCAARE works with recommendations from federal departments, northern co-management groups, universities and industry to play a key role in developing national and international partnerships to further research in priority areas. The Winnipeg-based secretariat coordinates science opportunities aboard Canadian Coast Guard vessels, as well as the infrastructure necessary for the implementation of Northern aquatic research.

• Centre of Expertise in State of the Ocean Reporting (SOTO)

  The Centre of Expertise on State of the Ocean Reporting was created under the Health of the Oceans Initiative. Among the contributors to the Centre of Expertise are scientists and managers working at Fisheries and Oceans Canada with specialties in chemical, physical and biological marine sciences.

For more information please email your request to sciencebulletin@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.