The Government of Canada launched the Enhanced Maritime Situational Awareness initiative pilot project in May 2019, in support of the user-friendly , local data on marine traffic and boost the Canadian indigenous local communities. Thus, the Minister announced a new funding of $6.9 million to attract more participants in the project and also announced the expansion of the pilot project until March 2022.
Specifically, the Enhanced Maritime Situation Awareness project is based on technology, providing accessible, near real-time, information about what is happening on local waters to coastal partners and stakeholders. For this initiative, the Government cooperated with 10 Indigenous organisations, who provided their knowledge to test and improve the current information system.
Under the Oceans Protection Plan and the Enhanced Maritime Situational Awareness initiative, the Government of Canada is taking an innovative approach to improving marine safety and a more collaborative approach to protecting our coasts. The near real-time information being provided to coastal communities makes our coasts and waterways safer than ever before.
… commented Canada’s Minister of Transport, Marc Garneau.
Concerning the funding, it comes in addition to the previously allocated $2.6 million dollars for this initiative in 2018. The funding is provided for innovative maritime data sources, to improve the existing data sources and build capacity for partners piloting the system.
This initiative is part of the 1.5$ billion Oceans Protection Plan that provides Indigenous peoples with new opportunities to protect, preserve, and restore Canada’s oceans and sea routes.
