Ocean Canada Map vs Whale Report

Dive into the newly enhanced Ocean Canada Map app and explore marine conservation areas in Canada like never before. Using augmented reality (AR) and immersive 360° videos, the ocean, coastal areas, and keystone diverse species are brought to life—right from your device. Discover how people across the country are working together to protect the waters that sustain us all. New for the 2026 edition: Explore the Arctic in an immersive AR experience that brings ocean ecosystems to life. Come face to face with a beluga whale and discover Arctic char, ringed seals, polar bears, and other marine animals as you explore interactive facts about biodiversity, climate change, and Inuit-led conservation. Take an immersive deep dive into two of Canada’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). On the Pacific coast explore the deep-sea habitats of the hydrothermal vents of the Tang.gwan--hacxwiqak--Tsigis MPA. Or descend into The Gully, a deep-sea canyon off the Atlantic coast. AR enables us to experience these hidden environments, coming face to face with some of the unique species that call these places home. Through additional ‘mini’ AR experiences, learn about the diverse habitats of the other MPAs and National Marine Conservation Areas across Canada and the people who help to protect them. These areas are further brought to life by a collection of 360° videos from Ocean School at the National Film Board of Canada and from Parks Canada, including imagery from some of Canada’s national parks that border coastal areas and major waterways. Available in English, French, and Inuktitut, the Ocean Canada Map app offers an engaging and accessible way to connect with Canada’s oceanic waters and marine conservation efforts from the dry comfort of your home, classroom, business, or community gathering. What are you waiting for? Dive in! The Ocean Canada Map app and the physical giant floor map program are part of a national collaboration led by the Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition, empowering people in Canada to better understand, value, and care for the ocean. Features: - Interactive AR journeys to real marine protected areas - Immersive 360° video experiences - Resources in English, French, and Inuktitut - Ideal for classrooms and ocean education events Free resources for Canadian educators: Book the Giant Floor Map, a classroom or gym-sized educational tool for schools and community groups. The map includes: - A teacher’s guide - Printed learning activities - All materials for five hands-on lessons on biodiversity, climate, conservation, and ocean action Pair the map with the app to activate AR features and bring protected areas to life in your learning space. A free online version of the map is also available for use on computers or smartboards: https://canadaoceanmap.ca/ Book the Giant Floor Map: https://cangeoeducation.ca/en/maps/ocean-freshwater-and-us/ Learn more about the Giant Floor Map: https://oceanweekcan.ca/blue-learning-lab/inquiry-zone/giant-floor-map/ This app is an initiative of the Centre for Ocean Literacy Collaboration (COLC) in collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada. COLC is a nationally and internationally recognized centre for ocean literacy collaboration, research, and innovation. Learn more: | centreforoceanliteracy.ca | oceanweek.ca

The Whale Report App Uses Community Sightings to Protect Whales from Ship Strikes. Whale Report helps us all stay connected and involved with community-based science. It also helps to protect the whales in our waters by privately alerting large commercial vessels of whales in their vicinity through the Whale Report Alert System, enabling them to take mitigation measures to reduce the risk of strike and disturbance. Key Features include: - Report sightings quickly and easily, even when out of mobile reception range. - View recent sightings in your area (24-hour delay for non-authorized mariners). - View your impact by seeing which sightings have generated real-time alerts. - View Marine Mammal Regulations and Guidelines on the interactive map. - Learn more information through our Species Guide and Species Threats pages. - Learn how to report a dead or distressed marine animal in your region. For Mariners: Access to the Whale Report Alert System now in Whale Report lets you report sightings and receive alerts of whale presence in one space! *Note that access to the WRAS is not granted to ecotourism operators or recreational boaters. Whale Report is made possible through funding and support from the Government of Canada, Quiet Sound, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Victoria Foundation, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, DP World and the Prince Rupert Port Authority.  Ocean Wise thanks its data providers, including: Ocean Wise Sightings Network observers, Southern Gulf Islands Whale Sightings Network, Orca Network via Conserve.io, Acartia Data Cooperative, Beam Reach, JASCO Applied Sciences, SMRU Consulting, and WhaleSpotter.