Ocean Tracking Network

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Ocean Tracking Network

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OTN deployments occur in all of the world’s five oceans and span seven continents.

The Ocean Tracking Network (OTN) is a global aquatic research, data management and partnership platform headquartered at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The Ocean Tracking Network is a global aquatic research, technology development, and partnership platform headquartered at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Beginning full operations in 2010, OTN is documenting the movements and survival of marine animals carrying electronic tracking tags, and how animals are influenced by oceanographic conditions. OTN is tracking many keystone, commercially important, and endangered species, including marine mammals, sea turtles, squid, and fishes including sharks, sturgeon, eels, tuna, salmonids, and cod. Over 400 international researchers from 18 countries are currently participating in the global network along with many more trainees, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows—in Canada alone, OTN has directly supported more than 130 students and trainees. OTN hosts a data warehouse—more than 100-million animal tracking records and growing—that serves as a repository for data collected by OTN researchers, and is developing interpretation and visualization tools for analysis of tracking data. OTN also operates a fleet of autonomous marine gliders in support of oceanographic and tracking research

10/16/2026

📣 We’re hiring a Senior Finance Manager!

They'll oversee OTN’s operating budget, provide expert advice to the leadership team, develop & implement financial policies, procedures & controls, and prepare financial reports.

Apply by October 26 to help support global aquatic research: https://oceantrackingnetwork.org/hiring-senior-finance-manager/

10/08/2026

🐟 OTN took part in the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society's Atlantic International Chapter (AIC), held September 27–29 at White Point Beach Resort in Nova Scotia.

The AIC brings together fisheries professionals, researchers, students, and managers from across eastern Canada and the northeastern United States to share knowledge, discuss applied fisheries science, and build connections across the region.

OTN was pleased to contribute through:

🐟 A presentation on our publication "Towards a best practice in acoustic telemetry mooring design," sharing approaches to help researchers optimize their fish tracking efforts.
🐟 A presentation on Ji'kaw (striped bass) tracking as part of Apoqnmatulti’k.
🐟 An outreach booth and poster highlighting OTN, our work, and ways to get involved.

Thanks to the AIC organizers and everyone who stopped by to chat, ask questions, and share their work with us. It was a great few days!

10/04/2026

With nearly 500 different aquatic species tracked by OTN and collaborators, what better day than to celebrate some of the incredible animals in our database? 🌊🐟

From the smallest to the most-tagged, we’re handing out a few awards to highlight the incredible diversity of animals being tracked across the network.

🏆 Who takes home each award? Swipe through to find out!

10/01/2026

On Treaty Day, we honour the Peace and Friendship Treaties and the enduring relationships, responsibilities, and commitments they represent. At their heart, these treaties speak to peaceful co-existence, mutual respect, and our shared responsibility to care for Mother Earth. This is a time to honour friendships between allies, while acknowledging the inherent rights of the Mi’kmaq—rights that have always existed and continue to exist today.

The values and commitments of these treaties are reflected in Apoqnmatulti’k, a partnership that brings together Mi’kmaw, local, and western scientific knowledge holders to care for the waters we all share. Through this collaboration, we are creating space for different knowledge systems, working together to understand and steward valued aquatic species, and learning from each other. By bringing these perspectives together, Apoqnmatulti’k strengthens our collective understanding of the world around us.

Treaty Day also marks the beginning of Mi’kmaq History Month, a time to deepen our understanding of Mi’kmaw history, territories, and culture. As Apoqnmatulti’k partners, we celebrate the people and relationships that make this work possible, while reflecting on what it means to carry the values and commitments of the Peace and Friendship Treaties forward.

Now and every day, it’s important to remember that we are all treaty people.

09/29/2026

Meg and Jess, our social media co-management team, headed to Bergen, Norway, in early September for —an international conference dedicated to strengthening marine science communication. It brings together scientists, communicators, educators, policymakers and others to explore innovative ways to share marine science, build ocean literacy, and connect research with broader audiences.

They each led their own sessions: Jess, Special Projects Manager, led an interactive “circus session” called Stories of Etuaptmumk-Guided Aquatic Research & Knowledge Sharing, as part of her work with Apoqnmatulti’k . Meg, Creative Communications Specialist, led an engaging workshop on visual storytelling and creative practice, with standing room only!

And, it was especially lucky that the conference was in Bergen, giving them the chance to connect with partners at Bergen Telemetry Network, venture out into nearby fjords, tag cod, and even get an up-close look at a thornback ray (a species found in the eastern Atlantic but not on OTN's side of the Atlantic).

Thanks to everyone who made this such an enriching experience, one that will continue to support OTN communications into the future! Swipe through to meet an extra-special new collaborator they met on the mountains of Bergen! ➡️🧌

09/17/2026

🌊 Mantas don’t recognize borders.

This year’s theme for World Manta Day is collaboration and manta rays offer a powerful example of why conservation can't happen in isolation.

Supported in part by a OTN equipment loan, researchers with Marine Megafauna Foundation used acoustic telemetry to track 48 reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) across Mozambique and South Africa, revealing just how connected these populations are.

The study found that around 30% of tagged manta rays moved between the two countries, including one-way movements of up to 950 km. While South Africa’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park appears to provide an important refuge, 90% of manta rays detected in Mozambique were found outside marine protected areas.

These movements highlight a challenge that goes beyond any one protected area: effective manta conservation requires collaboration across borders.

Acoustic telemetry helps researchers uncover these connections, providing the evidence needed to better understand where animals move, where protection is working, and where conservation efforts need to be strengthened. From researchers and monitoring networks to governments, communities and conservation organizations, collaboration is key to protecting these incredible ocean travellers.

📖 Read more: https://www.int-res.com/journals/esr/articles/esr01527

📸: 1, 2 & 4 - Ryan Daly | 3 (w/ figure) - Anna Flam

09/16/2026

We’re thrilled to share that our scientific director, Robert Lennox, has been named one of Canada's Top 40 Under 40 honourees!

This award program celebrates outstanding young professionals from across the country who are making a meaningful impact through their work. At OTN, Rob's vision, expertise, and forward-thinking approach are helping to advance our goal of providing global scientific leadership in aquatic animal tracking. It’s wonderful to see those contributions recognized alongside some of Canada’s emerging talent!

09/14/2026

In August, we welcomed students from Dalhousie University's MARI 3650 (Ocean Technology for the Observation and Conservation of Marine Species) to the Aquatron for an ROV workshop! 🤿🤖

Our telemetry operations team introduced the class to the different types of ROVs at OTN, the systems that support them, and how these vehicles enable aquatic research and discovery. Students got hands-on with the Falcon ROV, helping with deck checks before deploying it in the pool and then piloting on their own! They used the ROV's gripper to interact with objects in the pool, and explored the underwater environment with the onboard sonar.

It was a fantastic group who were eager to get involved and put our robots to the test. We love giving students opportunities to get out of the classroom and experience ocean tech in action!

09/11/2026

🌊 We’re hiring! OTN is looking for a Glider Technician I to join our glider team.

This role supports the maintenance, troubleshooting and piloting of Wave and Slocum gliders, along with field operations, metadata entry, data analysis and deployment of other oceanographic equipment.

If you’re interested in working with autonomous ocean observing technology, we’d love to hear from you! For more information: https://oceantrackingnetwork.org/were-hiring-glider-technician-i/

📅 Deadline to apply: Sept. 17, 2026

09/08/2026

New publication alert! 📊🐟

Much of the work that makes global acoustic telemetry research possible happens behind the scenes and, now, there’s a publication to help tell that story.

Our data team has published a new paper in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences detailing how the OTN Data Centre supports reliable, transparent and internationally certified acoustic telemetry data through global collaboration.

We're especially excited about this one because it showcases the expertise and dedication of a team that is so often quietly working their magic in the background.

Read the full publication here: https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/full/10.1139/cjfas-2025-0341

Address

1355 Oxford Street
Halifax, NS
B3H3Z1

Website

http://oceantrackingnetwork.org/

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