Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Sean Casey, talks whale protection and ocean intelligence in Washington

WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 12, 2018 /CNW/ - As a nation with three ocean coasts, Canada depends on healthy marine ecosystems. Our oceans create good jobs, and are an important habitat for our vast, abundant wildlife.  Increased collaboration between Canada and the US on oceans science will benefit citizens on both sides of the border.

Yesterday, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Sean Casey, welcomed guests to an event hosted by Ocean Networks Canada. The event focused on sharing perspectives about how Canada and the US can continue to work together on oceans science, especially in an era of rapidly changing oceans due to climate change, plastic pollution and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

While in Washington, the Parliamentary Secretary emphasized recent whale protection initiatives, including the historic $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan – the largest investment ever made to protect Canada's coasts and waterways. The Oceans Protection Plan provides:

• More than $26 million to support research that will help us better understand underwater noise pressures on marine mammals.
• Over $7 million to support the increased use of digital hydrophone and oceanographic technologies, which will benefit our coastal environment, help us better understand the underwater acoustic environment and inform strategies to protect endangered whales.
• More than $45 million collaborative research initiatives that will help to leverage collaboration among oil spill researchers across Canada and around the world.

Further, the Parliamentary Secretary met with key stakeholders such as the Ocean Networks Canada, Stimson Center, PEW Charitable Trust and Oceana to discuss Canada's investments related to ocean governance, Global Ghost Gear Initiative and combatting Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing. 

In addition, Parliamentary Secretary Casey met with Admiral Timothy Gallaudet, the acting administrator of NOAA, and had a productive conversation about the ongoing collaboration between Canada and the United States in many areas including the ongoing work to protect and restore the Southern Resident Killer Whale population in Pacific waters. 

Quotes                                                                                 

"We continue to come together to have these important conversations on protecting marine species, like Southern Resident Killer Whales, that cross our transboundary waters. We are united in working to address the challenges facing our oceans and supporting the science that will increase our understanding of the ocean at such a pivotal time."

Sean Casey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

"Our biggest challenges in ocean health cannot be resolved by one country or partner alone. These important scientific discussions help us better understand how ocean ecosystems work, how they are affected by human activities and how we can minimize our impacts on Canada's marine spaces and species."

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

Associated Links

• News release – New science funding for hydrophones and oceanographic radars to monitor marine environments
• Ocean Networks Canada (English only)
• University of Victoria oceans health research (English only)

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SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2018/12/c2322.html