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 STRATEGIC PLAN 2018-2023

CONTENTS
03 FOREWORD

06 VISION

MISSION

VALUE PROPOSITION

07 GUIDING PRINCIPLES

08 STRATEGIC GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

09 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

10 STRATEGIC GOALS: 2018-2023

11 OTN 2023
Photo: Masakazu Ushioda
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FOREWORD

The Ocean Tracking Network (OTN), building Canadian From 2008-2018, OTN built an international research
and international partnerships, is the world’s aquatic infrastructure and scientific research network that uses
animal tracking network. electronic telemetry, combined with other cutting-
edge scientific tools, to document the movements,
Aquatic animals support global food security, biology and survival of aquatic animals in relation to
contribute billions of dollars in socioeconomic benefits changing environmental variables and other stressors.
and ecosystem services, and have great public and OTN infrastructure deployments occur worldwide in the
cultural significance. Indigenous rights-holders ocean and its connected inland waters. The network
and coastal communities are highly dependent on includes over 400 researchers from 20 countries and
aquatic resources for their livelihoods and well- 133 institutions, and has tracked more than 160 species,
being. However, the ocean is changing significantly including marine mammals, sea turtles, squid, benthic
due to unprecedented anthropogenic stressors and crustaceans, and fishes including sharks, sturgeon, eels,
natural cycles, and aquatic animals are adapting to tuna, salmon, and cod.
changing conditions by altering their movement
patterns. One example is the extraordinary 2017 shift Results from OTN studies have guided management
in right whale distributions to the Gulf of St. Lawrence and conservation decisions from the Arctic to the sub-
creating a conservation crisis for the species and Antarctic, encompassing polar to tropical ecosystems.
mass economic disruption for fisheries and fishery- OTN has trained over 500 students globally, produced
dependent communities. Fundamental and applied over 350 peer reviewed scientific publications, and
research documenting aquatic animal movements is has led to the formation of five small and medium
a necessity to guide the conservation, development, enterprises from its activities. Through a combination
and sustainable use of these species and maintain of print, television, radio, video, and web-based stories,
ecosystem services. Telemetry systems are a critical tool the OTN brand has become recognized, respected, and
to provide this knowledge. valued around the world.
Photo: Steven Fields
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Over the next 5 years, OTN will: The OTN platform provides unique capabilities
to globally document the movements and
1. Work with researchers to conceptualize and design 7. Engage with Canada’s Ocean Supercluster survival of aquatic animals in the context of their
investigations, and tailor the OTN infrastructure, to (oceansupercluster.ca) to work with industry to environment. To do this, OTN:
address pressing fundamental and applied research develop new technologies and provide data that will
questions guide sustainable blue growth. 1. Supports the research of a globally distributed
network of national and international marine and
2. Double the number of species tracked globally 8. Maintain OTN leadership in electronic telemetry fresh water experts.
within the network, with particular focus on priority data management, development of new capabilities,
commercial, recreational, threatened, and indicator quality control, accessibility, and visualization. 2. Addresses, through research collaborations and
species. partnerships, pressing aquatic conservation issues
9. Extend fully compatible data nodes to Central at local, regional, national, and international
3. Extend acoustic receiver coverage to offshore and and South America and Europe, and explore scales.
deep ocean areas. opportunities in Asia and the Middle East; integrate
OTN’s data analytics and visualization capabilities 3. Trains the next generation of top specialists
4. Double its autonomous vehicle fleet and add new with those in partner data systems; and link the in interdisciplinary ocean sciences, animal
technologies (e.g., ROVs, drifters) to extend the OTN data system into complementary international movement ecology, engineering and
network’s reach, improve efficiency, and provide systems, including the Marine Biodiversity technologies, statistical analysis and modelling,
additional monitoring capabilities. Observation Network (MBON), the Ocean and marine policy and conservation.
Biogeographic Information Service (OBIS), the
5. Provide leadership in the development of integrated United States' Integrated Ocean Observing System’s 4. Unites international communities by operating
multi-disciplinary research proposals that will Animal Telemetry Network, South Africa’s Acoustic an internationally-certified (Associate Data
benefit from OTN's infrastructure. Tracking Array Platform (ATAP) and the Global Ocean Unit-International Oceanographic Data and
Observing System (GOOS). Information Exchange) data system.
6. Initiate programs in collaboration with Indigenous
peoples and local communities to address local 10. Diversify OTN communications and augment web- 5. Maintains, in harsh ocean conditions, a robust
concerns and observations. based tools to increase knowledge mobilization and and agile infrastructure that can monitor fixed
transform stakeholder engagement with the ocean. stations for extended periods, conduct strategic
mobile observing (e.g., through gliders or large
animals carrying ocean and animal monitoring
tags), and can also be rapidly redeployed to
address new issues and questions.

OTN is headquartered at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada, supported by the OTN professional staff, and
governed by a high-level advisory Council. Reporting to Dalhousie University, OTN Council is composed of experts
from government, academia, industry, non-governmental organizations and the public, and guides the strategic
direction of OTN. Expert Advisory Committees on science and data help to inform Council decisions.
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VISION GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Secure movement pathways that sustain healthy

wild animal populations, championed by
informed rightsholders and stakeholders.

OTN supports research and

MISSION researchers that are addressing
Uphold the highest standards of
important questions of interest and
Provide international leadership research integrity and responsible
benefit to science and society.
To be a global leader in supporting research that in aquatic telemetry, cutting-edge conduct of research.
enables the understanding and stewardship of research, technology development
aquatic animal populations and sustains human and ocean data management.
use of aquatic biological resources in the face of a
changing ocean environment.

Train highly qualified personnel

VALUE PROPOSITION (HQP) and ocean professionals.

OTN strategically makes capital and data- Embrace discovery and

sharing investments to generate and deliver Set global standards and best applied research.
knowledge for end-users at an affordable price. practices for aquatic telemetry.
OTN strategically makes capital and data-sharing
investments that build on the scientific expertise
and existing infrastructure of partners and
provides larger platforms that can generate the
knowledge for end users at an affordable price.
Foster a welcoming workplace
OTN’s international strategy for building a global
with a stimulating, diverse, and
platform is predicated upon leveraging partner
empowering work environment.
assets and capabilities and coming to formal
agreements with the partners on formats for data
storage and sharing.
Build and maintain strong
Implement data and information partnerships, engaging across
systems based on FAIR principles sectors (government, academia,
(Findable, Accessible, Inter- industry, communities,
operable, Reusable), open-access rightsholders) to implement world-
software, and making data openly class scientific infrastructure and
Leverage resources and innovative
accessible in a responsible manner. research programs.
advancements in aquatic telemetry.
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STRATEGIC PLAN2018-2023
2018-2023 09
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STRATEGIC GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

OTN’s strategic goals for 2018-2023 are designed to 2. Deliver comprehensive, standardized, 4. Address the data and observational needs 5. Increase the reach and effectiveness
enable research excellence, generate benefits for and reliable data to the research community. of national agencies, the private sector, the of OTN through innovative research partnerships,
Canada, extend OTN’s national and international international scientific community, provincial stakeholder engagement, communications and
impact, foster open access to data, facilitate a. Develop OTN best practices and post them governments, Indigenous peoples, and the public. investment in enterprise excellence.
development of new technologies, and engage with to OceanBestPractices.net for use by the
stakeholders. international community. a. Ensure the efficient and safe operation of the a. Mobilize network knowledge and make
existing network, tune it to meet our scientists’ connections between science/information and
1. Expand and sustain the existing aquatic telemetry b. Continue OTN's leadership role in open data needs, and ensure the timely provision of data policy/management to improve conservation of
network and create new partnerships with management and curation and engage with to the research community. aquatic resources.
existing independent telemetrists (nationally and national and international efforts to organize
internationally) that bring new research capacity to telemetrists and link them into a global data- b. Embrace new technologies and maintain flexibility b. Broaden the scope and capabilities of our
the global system. sharing system. to adapt to changing needs of the research and current communications capacity to maintain
stakeholder communities. a high-quality brand that benefits all network
a. Partner with the government, industry, NGOs, c. Integrate the data team with international participants.
academia, and communities to open new partners to create a commons for the c. Assist with the provision of information for
opportunities for co-deployments to address the development of new analytical and visualization environmental impact assessments and to guide c. Work with partners to encourage policy changes
most pressing research questions. tools for telemetry data. sustainable development of the oceans. in Canadian funding agencies that would pair
research funding with infrastructure funding.
b. Improve the cost-effectiveness of the existing 3. Develop the next generation of talent.
system of current deployments, starting with d. Continue communication and consultation
major lines, and redistribute equipment as a. Build on the first generation of OTN HQP now with the national and international scientific
strategically called for. moving into faculty and professional positions communities through our Canadian and
both in Canada and internationally to expand the international advisory committees.
c. Conduct theoretical and empirical eval- OTN footprint and meet growing research needs.
uations of current deployments to improve
platform performance. b. Create opportunities to train new HQP in
telemetry science.
d. Seek synergies by co-locating OTN staff in ocean
innovation hubs. c. Foster the international exchange of researchers
and students.
e. Build on our current successes in Europe to
position OTN for participation in Horizon Europe. d. Recruit new talent for training from Indigenous
peoples and other underrepresented groups, to
f. Add and deploy new technologies and capabilities foster equity and diversity
in service of the network (e.g., ROVs, aerial drones)
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STRATEGIC GOALS 2018-2023

1. Expand and sustain an agile, responsive

aquatic telemetry research network
and infrastructure, building off existing
ocean platforms and creating innovative
OTN 2023 WILL BE
partnerships.
1. A higher resolution infrastructure that has
2. Deliver comprehensive, standardized, and expanded to enable research in previously
reliable data to the research community. unexplored and inaccessible global areas
(e.g., deep sea, areas beyond national
3. Develop the next generation of HQP. jurisdiction).

4. Address the data and observational needs 2. An integral part of international fisheries
of national agencies, the private sector, the management, ocean conservation, and marine
international scientific community, provincial spatial planning (e.g., marine protected areas,
governments, Indigenous peoples, and the species rebuilding plans) in the face of a
public. changing ocean.

5. Move more results from telemetry studies into 3. An established technological and operational
use by policy makers. leader in aquatic animal tracking, ocean
observation, interdisciplinary research
6. Increase the reach and effectiveness of and training, and data management and
OTN through partnerships, stakeholder visualization.
engagement, communications and
investment in enterprise excellence.

Key performance metrics have been

developed to track progress in these areas.
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