MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTORS
OTN’s scientific director, Robert Lennox and OTN’s former executive director, Fred Whoriskey.
2024 was an exciting year for the Ocean Tracking Network (OTN), emphasized by the federal government’s groundbreaking announcement that a Major Research Facilities (MRF) program will be established by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), and that OTN will be one of six Major Science Initiatives making the transition to this prestigious program. Once implemented, the MRF program will provide more stable and long-term funding for OTN. This vote of confidence reflects the research impact that OTN is having in Canada and around the world.
As we continue to demonstrate value and impact to the global community, we are growing our offerings for animal tracking. In late 2024, OTN procured over 700 new acoustic receivers with support from CFI’s Innovation Fund and Research Nova Scotia. These infrastructure upgrades are essential to maintaining and evolving our global network and enhancing our equipment loaner program.
We wrapped up 2024 with a visit from CFI’s executive staff and board members, where we had the opportunity to showcase the people, equipment and spaces that make OTN a critical piece of the Canadian and international research landscape.
As we look ahead, there are many reasons to be excited about what’s on the horizon, and as the world continues to change around us, we are ever more convinced of the need for networks like OTN. Thank you for your continued support and engagement as we forge new opportunities and partnerships together in 2025 and beyond.
Robert Lennox, Scientific Director
Fred Whoriskey, Executive Director (Retired)
A special note from Fred:
For me, good endings are those that are followed by new beginnings, and the best combination of an ending and a beginning is one that smoothly slides into the future along an evolving continuum. As my time at OTN comes to an end, I look back with great pride and satisfaction on what OTN has accomplished and I am confident that the team taking the reins is guiding OTN down a path for a long and exciting future.
OTN continues to grow and evolve. And under Rob’s leadership, exciting new collaborations and research programs are being established. Since its inception, more than 7,000 investigators have registered with OTN’s data system and are working to generate knowledge from data produced and held by the growing network. The investigators working with OTN have trained new generations of researchers to address critical issues in the ocean, many of whom have now moved into academic positions and are also working with OTN systems.
OTN could not exist without the support of our funders. To them, and to the many other agencies and partners that have backed OTN, as well as our host institution, Dalhousie University, and our advisory committees: I am deeply grateful for the support we have received and for the confidence that has been shown in us.
At the core of OTN’s success are its people. My biggest thanks of all goes out to the hardworking, talented, dedicated, and not-shy-to-offer-their-opinions OTN staff. The imprint of every one of you is indelibly stamped on the successes achieved by the organization. To you all, I offer my sincere thanks. I will miss you.