In November 2016, the Government of Canada launched a $1.5 billion (CAD) national Oceans Protection Plan to help keep Canadian waters and coasts safe and clean, for todays use and for future generations. This national strategy will protect Canadas coasts and waterways and to preserve and restore marine ecosystems vulnerable to increased marine shipping and development.

As part of the Oceans Protection Plan the Government of Canada is investing in scientific research activities which will aim to address threats to marine mammals and better understand the potential for cumulative effects from shipping.

Through the Oceans Protection Plan, the Government of Canada will also fund improved research capacity to seek safe, reliable, and more effective technologies to clean up oil spills. New investments will fund research to help improve emergency response to marine pollution incidents on the water drawing on the expertise and experience of the science community both in Canada and abroad. This program will build on the work of Fisheries and Oceans Canadas world-leading Centre for Offshore Oil, Gas and Energy Research and will encourage collaboration on scientific research with Indigenous and local communities, international research facilities and industry.