ORCA presents: Canada's Ocean Decade newsletter
March 2023 – Issue 6

On this page

• ORCA 2023 Meeting: join us
• Ocean Decade Community of Champions feature
• Jackie Dawson, Champion for a safe ocean
• Ocean Wise, Champion for a clean ocean
• Canada Welcomed the World to IMPAC5
• COP15 takes steps to conserve ocean biodiversity
• MEOPAR inspires marine professionals to integrate science and art
• Fishing for Success wins 2022 Nature Inspiration Award
• Students on Ice Conservation Expedition
• Opportunities for Canadian youth with Ocean Wise
• Welcome to new ORCA council members
• Join the ORCA community! Call for new members
• Upcoming events
• Contact us

ORCA 2023 Meeting: join us

The Oceans Research in Canada Alliance (ORCA) 2023 meeting will be held June 1 to 2, 2023 at the Sheraton Hotel in St. John’s, NL, in partnership, and on location, with the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (CMOS) Congress being held that same week.

Under the theme, Together, Let's Build a Strong Canadian Contribution to the Ocean Decade, ORCA 2023 will showcase the diversity of the Canadian ocean community. The meeting will:

• provide a platform for sharing information
• build on existing collaborations
• establish new partnerships in support of Canada’s contribution to the Ocean Decade 

The Call for Session Proposals is currently open for submissions on topics aligned with 1 or more of the 7 Ocean Decade Outcomes. The aim is to enhance cooperation and collaboration across the Canadian ocean science community. Visit the ORCA 2023 website to learn more and don’t forget to submit your proposal to the ORCA Secretariat at ORCA.AROC@dfo-mpo.gc.ca no later than March 10, 2023.

Register for  ORCA 2023!

Ocean Decade Community of Champions Feature

The Ocean Decade Community of champions was created with one champion for each of the 7 Decade Outcomes. The champions aim to mobilize the Canadian ocean community and foster the creation of innovative and transformative science-based actions. Jackie Dawson, Champion for a safe ocean, and Ocean Wise, Champion for a clean ocean, explain their role and vision for their respective thematic networks:

Jackie Dawson, Champion for a safe ocean

"Leveraging ArcticNet’s interdisciplinary approaches and growing a multi-sectoral network as well as building on some of the outcomes of the Year of Polar Prediction, we will explore gaps and opportunities for ocean-dependent cultures and livelihoods with a focus on identifying ocean-related hazards, in particular as they relate to safe and sustainable navigation, coastal community needs, and self-determined economic development. We will look across disciplines and sectors to foster actions needed to generate and expand current knowledge required to achieve progress for a safe ocean.”

Ocean Wise, Champion for a clean ocean

“Ocean Wise is a non-profit organization whose mission is to empower communities and individuals to take action to protect and restore our world’s oceans. As Champion for a clean ocean, we hope to inspire and lead change with innovative solutions and actions that have strong impacts on our lifestyles and culture. Building on the success of some of our key programs, including our plastics initiative as well our Ocean Bridge program, we will focus on fostering actions to identify sources of pollution, develop science-based solutions, and build partnerships to implement them. In addition, we will leverage our activities and network to further empower people in ocean science, in particular youth.”

Canada Welcomed the World to IMPAC5

From 3-9 February 2023, the world's leading ocean conservation professionals met in Vancouver, Canada. The 5th International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5), an official Ocean Decade event, was an opportunity for the global community of marine conservation managers and practitioners to exchange knowledge, experience and best practices to strengthen the conservation of marine biodiversity and to protect the natural and cultural heritage of the ocean. IMPAC5 culminated in a one-day Leadership Forum that gathered leaders of government, Indigenous communities, and environmental, philanthropic, educational, and private sector organizations to discuss the results of the IMPAC5 congress and to build global momentum towards charting the course to protecting 30% of the world's oceans by 2030.

The Ocean Decade had a strong presence at the Congress with numerous activities led by our Canadian Decade partners that focused on ocean literacy, Early Career Ocean Professionals, local to global collaboration, sea expedition, the ocean-climate nexus, etc.

“IMPAC5 provided an incredible forum to showcase Ocean Decade activities and collaboration in marine conservation. I'm enthusiastic about the connections that were made and strengthened at IMPAC5 and what can be achieved together in support of the ocean we want.”

- Liisa Peramaki, Director, Ocean Decade Office/ORCA Secretariat, Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

“I'm proud to be part of this collaborative effort to transform ocean protection and support people that rely on oceans for their well being. There are so many initiatives underway and I am leaving inspired from all of the learning and exchanges that took place at IMPAC5.”

- Rebecca Martone, Executive Director, UN Ocean Decade Regional Collaborative Centre for NE Pacific; Member, Canadian Node of the Ocean Decade Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP) Program.

COP15 takes steps to conserve ocean biodiversity

The 15th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) resulted in the adoption of the new Kumming-Montreal agreement to halt biodiversity loss by 2030. Recognizing the critical role of ocean science, the IOC-UNESCO hosted a flagship event exploring how the Ocean Decade will contribute to marine and coastal conservation and restoration. The event brought together representatives from government, science, industry and philanthropy, including:

• the Ocean Decade Champion for a Healthy and Resilient Ocean Paul Snelgrove (Professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland)
• Anya Waite Associate Vice-President Research (Ocean) at Dalhousie University and CEO of Ocean Frontier Institute) and
• Alice Ortmann (Research Scientist at Fisheries and Oceans Canada)

The Honorable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard provided closing remarks reaffirming Canada’s commitment to improving ocean health, productivity and coastal resilience through a variety of initiatives, including a strong contribution in the Ocean Decade.

“Thanks to initiatives like the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development our knowledge of the ocean has increased and this science and data can translate into concrete and meaningful solutions.”

– Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

During the event, a new Decade publication, developed with financial support from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, was also launched.

MEOPAR inspires marine professionals to integrate science and art

MEOPAR recently set in motion a Science-Art Symbiosis program to inspire researchers to integrate artistic expression into their practices and expand their outreach and science communication skills. The program includes a:

• self-guided Science-Art workbook
• Professional Inspiration Session
• selection of exemplary science

The program, co-curated by scientist and artist Samantha Jones, has reached over 220 people across the world to date and has received formal Ocean Decade endorsement from the IOC-UNESCO.

Artistic methods can be used to deepen our understanding of the interconnectedness between humans and our ocean, and anyone can explore how you can integrate art into your practice.

Fishing for Success wins 2022 Nature Inspiration Award

Fishing for Success, a social enterprise in Petty Harbour, NL, that introduces women and girls to sustainable fishing practices, has won the Community Action category for the Canadian Museum of Nature’s national Nature Inspiration Awards for 2022. This annual award recognizes individuals, businesses, and not-for-profits that show leadership, innovation and creative approaches to sustainability in order to connect Canadians with nature and the natural world.

Fishing for Success was co-founded in 2014 by Kimberly Orren, a former high school science teacher turned commercial fish harvester, and Leo Hearn, a life-long resident of the community whose family had fished for generations. Fishing for Success works to transmit the intangible cultural fishing heritage by providing free or reduced-cost programming for:

• women
• children
• youth
• newcomers to Canada
• Indigenous community members

by partnering with other like-minded nonprofits to overcome the barriers of access to nature.

“As a young ocean professional studying sea cucumbers in the Arctic, being part of the team that received the Nature Inspiration Award for Community Action validates my chosen profession.”

– Rachel Morrison, Girls Who Fish member

Learn more about Fishing for Success. See videos about all of the 2022 Nature Inspiration Award recipients.

Students on Ice Conservation Expedition

Throughout September 2022, the Students on Ice (SOI) Foundation embarked on its Ocean Decade-endorsed Ocean Conservation Expedition. This extraordinary expedition took place aboard the Polar Prince, the only Indigenous-owned icebreaker in the world, and brought together:

• diverse educational and research partners
• Indigenous community representatives,
• artists
• industry
• media
• youth

As the ship travelled to remote regions, it showcased the wonders of ocean environments and provided a platform for learning, research, and stewardship of coastal and marine environments.

To learn more about SOI’s past and upcoming expeditions to the Arctic, Antarctic and many places in between, visit the SOI website.

Opportunities for Canadian youth with Ocean Wise

Ocean Wise is currently recruiting 160 youth (ages 19 to 30) for their 2023 to 24 Ocean Bridge and Direct Action programs! These programs provide direct experience in ocean conservation and public engagement skills through the lens of community service. Learning from experts in marine conservation, and supported by Ocean Wise, youth are empowered to take action and become impactful ocean ambassadors. 

No prior experience is required, and the program will cover travel expenses including transport, accommodations, activities, and meals while participants are on learning journeys. 

To apply, submit the application form online by March 13, 2023 for cohort 1 and May 28, 2023 for cohort 2. If you have questions about the Ocean Bridge and/or Direct Action programs, please email:

• oceanbridge@ocean.org or
• directaction@ocean.org

Welcome to new ORCA council members

The ORCA Council promotes and encourages the coordination and cooperation of ocean science and technology in Canada. The Council includes members from various sectors in the ocean science community. Please welcome the two newest members!

Join the ORCA community! Call for new members

The Oceans Research in Canada Alliance (ORCA) was established to improve the coordination of ocean science and technology (S&T) in Canada. ORCA brings together Canada's ocean S&T community to increase collective knowledge, align efforts and forge stronger collaborative ties. Membership reflects the diversity of Canada's ocean S&T community and includes:

• academic institutions
• government departments
• granting agencies
• non-governmental organizations
• Indigenous groups and
• industry

Join the ORCA Pod! Membership is free and provides you access to the ORCA Community Platform which facilitates coordination and collaboration between ORCA members. Send an email to the ORCA Secretariat ORCA.AROC@dfo-mpo.gc.ca to join the more than 600 members from over 160 organizations that are already part of ORCA. Together we can advance our collective understanding of the ocean!

Upcoming events

Contact us

Email: DFO.OceanDecade-DecennieOcean.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Website: United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) (dfo-mpo.gc.ca)

Email: ORCA.AROC@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Website: Oceans Research in Canada Alliance - Science.gc.ca