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Advisory Committee on Undersea Feature Names

Advisory Committee on Undersea Feature Names (ACUFN).

Advisory Committee on Undersea Feature Names (ACUFN).

Learn how undersea and surface maritime features are named and the Advisory Committee that helps to name them.

As its Chair, Fisheries and Oceans Canada hosts this information on its website on behalf of the Advisory Committee on Undersea Feature Names (ACUFN). ACUFN is an external multi-sector subcommittee of the Geographical Names Board of Canada.

On this page

Naming undersea and surface maritime features

Discover how undersea and surface maritime features are named and how to submit a naming proposal.

How undersea and surface maritime features are named

Undersea features are unique parts of the ocean floor that are defined by their measurements. Surface maritime features are a distinct area of water made of one or more adjoining bodies of water (for example: Salish Sea, Parry Channel, St. Marys Bay). Undersea and surface maritime features have names just like you.

In Canada, anyone can propose names for them by submitting a naming proposal to ACUFN. ACUFN reviews proposals for their appropriateness and accuracy. Successful proposals are then submitted to the national authority on geographical names, Geographical Names Board of Canada, for naming consideration.

Once an undersea or surface maritime feature is officially named in Canada, ACUFN can submit this name to the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO), the organization responsible for recognizing the names on an international level.

ACUFN is only responsible for advising on undersea and surface maritime feature names. To submit a naming proposal for a land feature, contact the applicable Provincial or Territorial Naming office.

Submit a naming proposal

Follow these steps to propose a new name for an undersea or surface maritime feature.

  1. Complete the application form.
  2. Add the supporting material, including:
    • maps
    • charts
    • photos
    • imagery
    • sketches
    • diagrams
    • Items showing the use of the name in current or historical publications
  3. Submit the form and your supporting materials by email or mail to ACUFN:
    ACUFN-CCNESM@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
    Chair, Advisory Committee on Undersea Feature Names
    Canadian Hydrographic Service
    200 Kent St., 12W091 Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0E6

Derogatory Names

Follow these steps to identify or request a change to an inappropriate geographical name of an undersea and surface maritime feature:

  1. Complete the application form.
  2. Submit the form by email or mail to ACUFN:
    ACUFN-CCNESM@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
    Chair, Advisory Committee on Undersea Feature Names
    Canadian Hydrographic Service
    200 Kent St., 12W091 Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0E6

About ACUFN

The Advisory Committee on Undersea Feature Names (ACUFN) advises the Geographic Names Board of Canada on the naming of undersea and surface maritime features within and adjacent to Canadian waters.

Mandate

ACUFN is responsible for:

ACUFN is a multi-sector committee with members from:

ACUFN also works, as needed, with specialists in:

Membership

Chair

Anna Hendi
Geomatics Advisor, Canadian Hydrographic Service
Anna.Hendi@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Members

Steve Westley
Manager, Geographical Names Board of Canada Secretariat
steve.westley@canada.ca

Carolina Herrara
Translation Bureau
Carolina.Herrera@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca

Carla Jack
Geographical Names Board of Canada Secretariat
Carla.Jack@canada.ca

Allison Galloway
Geographical Names Board of Canada Secretariat
alison.galloway@canada.ca

Sunil Bisnath
Academia
sbisnath@yorku.ca

Kami Randell
ACUFN Secretariat
Kami.Randell@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Related links

Contact us

For more information about ACUFN, contact ACUFN-CCNESM@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

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