Ecosystems and Oceans Science Contribution Framework

On this page

• Eligible applicants
• Eligible costs
• Support to eligible applicants
• How to apply
• Application feedback

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) provides funding for ocean and freshwater science and technology in areas that support the mission of the Department to increase our understanding of ocean and freshwater environments.

The Department provides funding to projects that deliver scientific research and related scientific activities that support evidence-based decision making and increase public understanding of marine and freshwater ecosystems. Related scientific activities complement and extend scientific research by contributing to the generation, dissemination and application of scientific and technological knowledge. Examples of this include:

• data collection and integration
• ocean and freshwater monitoring
• data analyses
• modelling and hypothesis testing
• scientific capacity building (Indigenous recipients only)
• communication of science in support of ocean literacy

Canada is a supporter of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian ocean science community are building a strong contribution to the Ocean Decade. Projects funded through the Ecosystems and Oceans Science Contribution Framework can contribute to the Ocean Decade outcomes. For more information on the Ocean Decade, please visit DFO’s Ocean Decade website.

Eligible applicants

Eligible recipients are science organizations engaged in the management, conservation, protection and promotion of oceans and freshwater including:

• Canadian post-secondary academic institutions
• Canadian non-governmental organizations
• Indigenous groups or organizations
• Canadian provincial, territorial, and municipal governments
• businesses and industry, including associations
• community groups
• Canadian not-for-profit organizations
• foreign governments and international non-governmental organizations
• foreign academic institutions
• port authorities

Increasing equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in ocean science and research enhances excellence, innovation and creativity and leads to more impactful results for all Canadians.

Eligible costs

Payments to eligible recipients may be used to offset reasonable costs of projects under contribution agreements, including eligible costs for:

• salaries, wages, stipends and other labour
• mandatory employee benefits
• professional fees
• rental and/or purchase cost of motorized vehicles (cars, trucks, ATVs, snowmobiles, outboard motors), boats, boat trailers and trailers required for funded projects ("motorized vehicles and equipment"). Note that any request to purchase motor vehicles must clearly demonstrate both project need, as well as value-for-money for the Crown, when compared to a comparable rental arrangement
• purchase of laboratory and field equipment and instruments
  • including hydrophones and similar monitoring equipment, excluding motorized vehicles
• rental and maintenance of laboratory and field equipment and instruments
• rental cost of space, such as laboratory, rooms, office space and facilities
• travel (consistent with the National Joint Council’s Travel Directive)
• registration to attend workshops, conferences, meetings and symposia
• publishing
• communication
• conference and symposia exhibits
• data management
• materials and supplies
• fees to access equipment and vessels
• administrative overhead up to 15% of all other eligible costs
• other costs that directly support scientific research and related scientific activities, pre-approved by DFO up to a maximum of 10% of total eligible costs
• additional costs eligible only to Indigenous organizations or groups:
  • honoraria
  • ceremonial items
  • gifts
  • feasts

Support to eligible applicants

DFO is able to provide financial assistance for the following groups:

• Indigenous organizations or groups may be up to 100% of eligible costs per project
• Canadian not-for-profit organizations and community groups with 4 or fewer permanent employees, including no employees (0), may be up to 100% of costs per project, otherwise DFO assistance shall not exceed 75% of eligible costs per project
• business and industry recipients, including business and industry associations, shall not exceed 50% of eligible costs per project
• all other recipients shall not exceed 75% of eligible costs per project

For business and industry recipients, including business and industry associations, the maximum level of total Canadian government assistance (i.e. federal, provincial, territorial and municipal) for the same eligible costs shall not exceed 50% of total eligible costs per project.

For all other recipients, including port authorities, the total Canadian government assistance (i.e. federal, provincial, territorial and municipal) for the same eligible costs per project can be up to 100%.

How to apply

The project proposal submission period is now closed. Please return to this site for updates on future open calls for project proposals. Should you have questions concerning funding opportunities, please contact us.

Application feedback

Due to the volume of applications, we are not in a position to provide detailed feedback on individual project proposals. All project decisions for proposals are final. It is the responsibility of the Lead Applicant to ensure that the application is complete and that we have a clear and accurate understanding of the project.