Federal Science and Technology: The Pursuit of Excellence - Appendix

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

The Science Program is the cornerstone of the mandated responsibilities of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). These responsibilities cannot be successfully implemented without the scientific knowledge and advice that the Science Program produces. The department provides programs and services that:

• support the sound management of commercial and recreational harvesting of living marine resources;
  
  
• support sustainable development and the protection of the ecological integrity of the aquatic environment; and
  
  
• promote safe and accessible waterways.

Excellence in Science and Technology

DFO continues to be one of the chief Canadian producers of knowledge in ocean and freshwater sciences. For example, DFO scientists helped Canada to rank as the second-largest producer of international knowledge in oceanology and limnology, and the fourth-largest in marine biology and hydrobiology.

Here are just some of the initiatives DFO has undertaken to ensure future excellence in ocean and freshwater sciences:

• The Science Program organized the national Aquatic Science 2020 Workshop. At the workshop, more than 150 members of Canada’s scientific and policy communities identified the major science-based issues and science requirements expected to occur in aquatic science in the next two decades. This initiative will help the Department align its activities and resources with the areas identified as priorities for knowledge generation.
  
  
• The Canadian Hydrographic Service in the Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador regions worked with local educational institutions to develop and update educational programs related to hydrography. The objective has been to ensure the transfer of hydrographic expertise to future generations.
  
  
• The Department continued to advance a multidisciplinary ecosystem approach to the provision of scientific advice. For example, the Ecosystem Status Report on the Eastern Scotian Shelf Ecosystem provided a comprehensive, integrated assessment of the current status of this large ocean ecosystem relative to previous states. The report reflected expertise in oceanography, habitat ecology, marine genomics research, fisheries research, chemistry, marine biology, benthic ecology and oceans management. The report also used more than 60 data series, most of which date back at least to 1970 (www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas).

Effective Linkages in Scientific Research

By partnering with others, DFO optimizes its program delivery. DFO’s role as a partner, broker and catalyst in multidisciplinary, multi-institutional and multinational research increases the scope and depth of research; improves the national capacity for aquatic science and technology development and transfer; and leverages available funds.

DFO continued to forge new partnerships, strategic alliances and collaborative arrangements with other federal government departments and agencies; the private sector; universities and colleges; provincial, territorial and municipal governments; international governments; and NGOs.

Below are some examples of DFO’s science partnering initiatives in the past year.

• In partnership with a consortium of Canadian universities and federal science-based departments and agencies (SBDAs), the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) icebreaker Sir John Franklin was converted into a dedicated state-of-the-art Arctic research vessel and renamed the Amundsen. Over the next 10 years, the vessel will support several major multidisciplinary programs designed to advance understanding of climate, oceanic circulation, sea-ice dynamics, biology, biogeochemistry, sedimentology, paleoceanography and geology in the Canadian sector of the Arctic Ocean.
  
  
• The Fisheries Science Collaborative Program was developed to bring together departmental scientists and Atlantic fishers to collaborate on priority issues in fisheries science research. The core objectives of the program, which was implemented in 2003, are to increase knowledge of the state of fish stocks, to support decisions on critical conservation issues related to Atlantic marine fish stocks, and to promote and implement collaborative science activities with the Atlantic fishing industry.
  
  
• The collaborative efforts of DFO, Transport Canada, World Wildlife Fund Canada, the Canadian Whale Institute, and representatives from the shipping, fishing, and whale-watching sectors made it possible to establish new shipping lanes in the Bay of Fundy. These lanes are designed to protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale population from ship strike. The lanes are believed to be the first in the world that are sensitive to ship strikes.
  
  
• The Canadian Surface Ocean Lower Atmosphere Study Research Network was launched to improve our understanding of interactions between the oceans and the atmosphere, and the implications of those interactions for global climate change. Part of a new international initiative, the Network involves 43 Canadian researchers, including scientists from DFO, 14 partner institutions (universities and government) and five other countries. The Network is currently the largest ocean science project in Canada.
  
  
• As part of its ongoing commitment to Arctic research, DFO has also established the National Centre for Arctic Aquatic Research Excellence (N-CAARE) at its Freshwater Institute in Winnipeg. The Centre consolidates expertise under one umbrella and coordinates the development of DFO Arctic research programs related to marine and freshwater Arctic science issues. Close partnerships have been established with other federal departments, northern advisory groups, universities, industry and international research agencies.

Alignment

To ensure that high-quality, timely and relevant scientific knowledge is provided for DFO’s longstanding responsibilities and emerging science-based issues, the department completed a reviewed of its Science Program. Through the review, the Science Program will improve the alignment of its scientific efforts and resources with the needs of today and the future, in support of departmental and government-wide priorities. The review has identified about 30 options and initiatives for optimizing delivery of the program. While the majority of these options and initiatives are currently being evaluated, others are in the early stages of implementation.

Contact Information
Science Sector, Policy Planning and Coordination
Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Tel.: (613) 993-2611
Web site: www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca