VANCOUVER – A new report says Canada is at risk of losing its world-leader status on ocean science.
The report for the Council of Canadian Academies says funding for ocean science is actually increasing, contrary to perception, but limitations on access to data and information reduce the usefulness of research being done by governments, universities and industry.
David Strangway, chairman of the expert panel and former president of the University of British Columbia, says Canada, with more coastline than any nation in the world, is a steward of the ocean and its activities have an impact on the rest of the world.
The report says Canada has invested in some world-class ocean monitoring, but has an aging research fleet.
This country has been among the top countries for producing ocean research, but that could change.
Strangway says investing in ocean science is an opportunity and a necessity for Canada.
