Language selection

Search

DFO Science stories

Learn more about the fascinating aquatic science being advanced at Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) from coast to coast to coast

Science stories
Title Subject Photo Date
Plankton's Big Impact

Plankton are tiny aquatic drifters. How large is their impact?

Plankton are tiny aquatic drifters, but they have a large impact on our day-to-day lives.

DFO Maritimes scientist Dr. Catherine Johnson explains how plankton play a vital role in aquatic and human life.

Plankton (copepod) seen under a microscope.

Plankton (copepod) seen under a microscope.

2026-01-05
Hot and Bothered

Hot and Bothered: How heatwaves amplify the ecological impacts of nearshore clam fishing

Soft-shell clams can become more vulnerable to predators during heatwaves.

Read more on a recent study by DFO scientist Jeff Clements that shines a light on the combined effects of human activities, such as fishing, and climate change on clams.

The empty shell of a dead soft-shell clam on a beach at Maces Bay, New Brunswick.

The empty shell of a dead soft-shell clam on a beach at Maces Bay, New Brunswick. Source: Jeff Clements / DFO

2025-11-03
Exploring Antarctica

Exploring Antarctica: How Canadian science is helping decode climate change

One of the earth’s most remote areas may hold the answers to how the climate is changing, using data from the past and today.

Read about two Canadian scientists on their mission to uncover Antarctica’s climate secrets.

Dr. Sophia Johannessen (left) and Cynthia Wright (right) on the HMCS Margaret Brooke in Antarctica, posing in front of icebergs.

Dr. Sophia Johannessen (left) and Cynthia Wright (right) on the HMCS Margaret Brooke in Antarctica, posing in front of icebergs.

2025-09-DD
From Static to Dynamic

From Static to Dynamic: S-100 and the Future of Maritime Navigation

In a globally interconnected world, reliable digital hydrographic data are essential to ensuring maritime safety and transportation efficiency, while reducing costs and contributing to a blue economy.

Read more here about how the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) is taking a leading role in advancing S-100 digital datasets.

A marine navigator in a simulator uses digital charts to guide vessels safely in a busy waterway.

A marine navigator in a simulator uses digital charts to guide vessels safely in a busy waterway. Credit: Corporation des pilotes du Bas Saint-Laurent (CSEM)

2025-05-21
Fin whale breaching

Mysteries of Ocean Music: Deciphering whale sounds with the help of AI to better understand underwater ecosystems

Across the vast darkness of the ocean, what we can hear may be much more important than what we can see.

Learn more about the science of deciphering whale sounds.

Fin whale breaching. Credit: Lucy Quayle.

Fin whale breaching. Credit: Lucy Quayle.

2025-02-17
Cruising in Comfort

Cruising in Comfort: Ship safety supported by science and technology

Science is at the heart of everything we do! The simple act of a cruise ship passing safely under a bridge can require a significant amount of specialized scientific and technical knowledge.

Learn more about how the Canadian Hydrographic Service’s water levels data is supporting both marine passenger safety and economic activity.

Photo credit: Shutterstock

Photo credit: Shutterstock

2025-02-17
Date modified: