Fisheries and Oceans Canada
www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
Who We Are
Taking the Measurements of Canada's Waterways
Canada has the longest coastline of any country in the world. More than a third of its territory is under water. Its lakes, rivers and ocean waters are used by millions of craft every year – for recreation and tourism, fishing and industry, international shipping and national defence.
Since 1883, the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) has studied those waters to ensure their safe, sustainable and navigable use.
Today CHS is a division of the Science Branch of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. With 300 dedicated employees distributed across Canada, CHS publishes and maintains nearly a thousand nautical charts as well as hundreds of publications. These products are renowned the world over for their quality.
With access to Canadian Coast Guard ships, CHS takes advantage of every opportunity to take hydrographic and oceanographic measurements. We conduct regular field surveys – especially for higher-risk, higher-priority areas – with both shore parties and marine vessels including specialized hydrographic craft.
CHS is involved in a range of activities that continue to deepen our knowledge of Canadian waters. The four pillars of our business are:
Maritime Transportation
CHS’s exceptional nautical charts and navigational products help ensure the safe navigation of Canada’s waterways.
Ocean and Freshwater Mapping
CHS uses the latest technology to collect high-resolution data on the depth, shape and structure of Canada’s oceans, lakes and rivers.
Coastal Natural Hazards
CHS monitors tides and water levels – essential information for detecting and predicting climate change and variability, and natural hazards.
Sovereignty
CHS plays a vital role in determining Canada’s maritime boundaries and sovereignty.
Today, taking advantage of technological advancements and more than a century of expertise, CHS is a recognized world leader in hydrography.
"Our role has evolved a great deal over the years, and with it our client base. Where before we served almost exclusively the shipping and recreational boating communities, today we provide data products to scientists and engineers, offshore developers and coastal planners. We also play a part in national defence and security.
With all that change, our top priority is still the same: to produce accurate navigational charts that contribute to marine safety. We see a future in which all commercial vessels will have a full suite of electronic navigational products that receive real-time updates, giving crews constant access to the latest information. And we see a time when recreational boaters will use hand-held devices to download up-to-date charts and related navigational information – wherever they are, whenever they need them."
Savithri (Savi) Narayanan
Dominion Hydrographer
Director General, Ocean Science
Canadian Hydrographic Service
