Key initiatives

The Pacific Marine Science Alliance leads and supports several key initiatives focused on advancing marine science. Learn more about our projects and how they contribute to a sustainable ocean future.

Kelp Rescue Initiative

Kelp forests are some of the most vital ecosystems in cool coastal waters: they support a rich diversity of marine life, protect coastlines from erosion, and cycle nutrients and carbon while producing oxygen. However, these underwater forests are rapidly disappearing in many parts of the world, primarily due to ocean warming and overgrazing by sea urchins. To safeguard kelp forests and ensure their persistence into the future, we need science-backed solutions to preserve, strengthen and restore kelp forests. The Kelp Rescue Initiative actively develops and tests scalable restoration approaches and leads research on kelp ecology, genetics and spatio-temporal kelp dynamics.

EMPOWER

Measuring ocean weather and predicting ecological response in near shore environments. EMPOWER’s research program’s primary goal is to understand the impacts of climate change on coastal ecosystems and ultimately provide adaptive solutions to mitigate the negative impacts of future climate change on coastal ecosystems. ECOCOSM observatories measure near-shore ocean weather parameters alongside biological monitoring in support of experimental approaches in the marine sciences that will foster research and innovation and help mitigate the ecological impacts of climate change on coastal ecosystems. Funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

The Pacific Rim Institute for Sustainable Marine Systems (PRISMS)

The Pacific Rim Institute for Sustainable Marine Systems (PRISMS), transcends disciplinary boundaries in support of the development of a Canadian ocean research, ocean stewardship, and a sustainable and innovative blue economy. By amplifying the work of Canada’s Pacific and western Arctic Ocean researchers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, coastal guardians, PRISMS will enhance national capacity for integrated marine observation and prediction, guided by the ocean stewardship priorities of coastal and Indigenous communities.

The Coastal Restoration of Ecosystems with Sustainable Technologies (CREST)

The Coastal Restoration of Ecosystems with Sustainable Technologies (CREST) program is developing advanced, scalable solutions and, in co-production and co-management with First Nations, providing evidence-based data for coastal restoration of macroalgae (seagrass, kelps), shellfish, and Pacific Salmon, including the development of tools to inform scalable restoration solutions for a sustainable and equitable blue economy.

University programs

Year-round immersive, field-based accredited courses, featuring hands-on learning, small class sizes, and exceptional field research opportunities to train and equip the next generation of ocean scientists with the tools needed to ensure a sustainable and healthy One Ocean ecosystem.