Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) is pleased to support Canada’s commitment to strengthen global ocean observing systems, announced today (Sept. 23, 2026) during the launch of the OceanEye International Alliance for the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly High-Level Week in New York.
The alliance was launched by the Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in partnership with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC‑UNESCO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Global leaders in ocean observing
ONC interim CEO and president, Jay Cullen was invited by the European Commission Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Charlina Vitcheva, to attend the high‑level pledging event.
Jay Cullen, ONC interim president and CEO at the OceanEye Alliance pledging event at the UN General Assembly.
As Canada’s national ocean observatory and a world leader in cabled ocean observing networks, ONC is well positioned to support efforts to strengthen ocean observation from the Arctic to the Southern Ocean.
“Ocean observation is essential infrastructure for Canada and the world,” said Cullen. “With more than 20 years of experience operating world-leading cabled observatories and strong partnerships across government, Indigenous communities and the international research community, Ocean Networks Canada has the expertise and infrastructure to help Canada expand its existing networks and advance a made-in-Canada Arctic fibre-optic observing system.”
From the deep-sea to rich coastal waters, ONC’s observatory network captures vital continuous ocean data from the Pacific, Atlantic, and polar regions. More than 850km of cabled observatories provide power and Internet connection to more than 12,000 ocean sensors and scientific instruments, along with mobile and land-based assets, including coastal radar.
Last year, ONC doubled observing capacity in the Southern Ocean, deployed new instrumentation in the Pacific, and expanded community ocean monitoring on the east and Arctic coasts of Canada. More than 45,000 researchers, communities, and decision-makers around the world use ONC’s sensors, cameras and acoustic data, accessible through its Oceans 3.0 data portal.
Map of ONC’s infrastructure on all three coasts of Canada and the Southern Ocean.
OceanEye International Alliance
Co-led by the European Union and Canada, the OceanEye International Alliance for the Global Ocean Observing System, in partnership with the IOC‑UNESCO and the WMO, builds on the OceanEye initiative, adopted by the European Commission in June 2026 to strengthen and expand ocean observation in the EU and globally. The alliance also supports the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) and the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).
Canadian delegates at OceanEye alliance event in New York, pictured left to right: Rob Lennox, Ocean Tracking Network; Jamie Snook, MEOPAR; Miriam Zitner, Carbon to Sea; Anne-Sophie Ste Marie, CIOOS and Jay Cullen.
ONC joined fellow Canadian delegates at the launch event, including representatives from Ocean Tracking Network (OTN), Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction, and Response (MEOPAR), Carbon to Sea and the Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System (CIOOS).
Advancing ocean observing
Building on more than 20 years of ocean observatory leadership, Ocean Networks Canada is committed to advancing ocean observation for Canada and the world through sustained operations, innovation, and collaboration. By delivering trusted ocean intelligence and fostering partnerships across governments, Indigenous communities, academia, industry, and international organizations, Ocean Networks Canada will continue to strengthen Canada's contribution to global ocean observation while supporting marine safety, environmental stewardship, scientific leadership, economic resilience, and security.
