From improving sea ice safety in the Arctic to developing sustainable fishing technology, the recipients of MEOPAR’s 2026 Early Career Researcher Award are tackling Canada’s emerging ocean challenges.
MEOPAR recognizes that investing in early career researchers helps secure a stronger, more resilient future for Canada’s ocean and coastal communities. By supporting researchers at this pivotal stage in their careers, they can expand their expertise, build strong collaborations, and deliver research with real-world impact for communities, ecosystems, and the economy.
Keep reading to learn more about the nine exceptional researchers and projects receiving MEOPAR’s 2026 Early Career Researcher Award.
Aukkarniqsiutik (Polynya) Mapping with Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and Remote Sensing
Led by: Mallik Mahmud, McGill University
This project will deliver the first automated system for detecting and mapping landfast ice polynyas, areas of open water or thin ice within otherwise stable ice, at scales relevant to Inuit communities. By combining cutting-edge satellite technology with Inuit knowledge, a tool will be developed that improves safety and strengthens climate resilience. Outputs will include printed maps, digital tools, and integration with platforms such as SIKU, ensuring the information is accessible and practical for hunters and travelers.
Assessing the impacts of Arctic warming, marine heat waves, and the interaction of shipping on seabirds in Northern Hudson Bay
Led by: Emily Choy, McMaster University
This project will assess the impacts of marine heat waves and shipping on one of the most common Arctic seabirds, the thick-billed murre, in Northern Hudson Bay. By studying this sentinel species, an animal that acts like an early warning signal for the health of the ocean, the response of the broader marine ecosystem to these same stressors will be explored. The results will help predict how multiple stressors can interact and inform efforts to protect Arctic marine ecosystems under rapidly warming conditions.
From Molecules to Management: Decoding Whale Diets Across the Northeast Pacific using Environmental DNA
Led by: Chloe Robinson, Ocean Wise Conservation Association
This project will respond to recent declines in grey whale and resident killer whale populations in British Columbia waters land their link to malnutrition. Using environmental DNA (eDNA), fecal samples, and prey fragments, this project will study seasonal diets, key prey sources, and how changing ocean conditions affect prey availability for both species. The results will support Indigenous stewardship and provide policymakers with clearer, timely evidence-based insights into the diet of BC whales and emerging environmental threats.
Reducing seabed disturbance in Arctic trawl fisheries through semicircular flow gear technology
Led by: Tomas Araya-Schmidt, Memorial University of Newfoundland
This project explores an alternative to standard trawl fishery gear used to target turbot (Greenland Halibut). It will design, test, and implement a new low-impact trawl footgear system to reduce seabed disturbance, carbon resuspension, and fuel use while maintaining turbot catch efficiency. By collaborating with Baffin Fisheries, the project will deliver Arctic-ready fishing technology that supports sustainable fisheries and protects sensitive marine habitats.
Collaborative study of the basking shark as an umbrella species for inclusive, climate-adaptive conservation in the Gulf of St. Lawrence
Led by: Marianne Falardeau, Université du Québec, Télé-université du Québec (TÉLUQ)
This project aims to better understand and support the conservation of the basking shark in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It will combine scientific observations with those of fishers to document the basking shark’s distribution and document local, indigenous and non-indigenous fishers’ perceptions of its conservation. The results will contribute to the planning of marine protected areas, notably the future Anticosti-Mingan marine park.
Health-Informed Oceanic Habitat Use of the Lower Fraser River White Sturgeon Population to Advance Protection, Restoration, and Indigenous-Led Stewardship
Led by: Morgan Piczak, University of British Columbia
This project, co-developed with the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance representing 24 First Nations, will address a major knowledge gap by linking where the Lower Fraser River white sturgeon moves in estuarine and marine environments with indicators of individual health. By combining large-scale acoustic tracking with non-lethal physiological assessments, this project will identify habitats that support healthy fish as well as areas associated with elevated stress. These findings will provide actionable, spatially explicit information to guide habitat protection, restoration, and recovery planning for this species at risk.
Reviving deep-time mariculture through modern Indigenous stewardship in Gitga’at Territory
Led by: Spencer Greening, Gitga’at Oceans and Lands Department
This project will document Ancestral mariculture practices and living Gitga’at knowledge of marine stewardship across the Territory to establish a baseline for revitalizing traditional systems. The research will guide long-term restoration and support sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems within Gitga’at territory.
ciiqciiqasa muułaaʔaƛquu: Flowing Words, Rising Tides: Digital Tools for Hesquiaht Language Revitalization and Marine Knowledge Transmission
Led by: chuutsqa Rorick, University of Victoria
This project will strengthen Hesquiaht language revitalization by developing community-governed digital tools and immersive learning resources rooted in marine knowledge. By combining Indigenous knowledge systems with ethical AI, it will support climate changeadaptation, Indigenous youth engagement, and equitable access to language learning.
A Decentralized Biobanking Framework to Enable Red Seaweed (Pyropia) and Sugar Kelp (Saccharina latissima) Conservation and Cultivation in British Columbia
Led by: Logan Zeinert, North Island College
This project will develop new tools to preserve seaweed genetic diversity and create a decentralized biobank to ensure a reliable, long-term supply of kelp seed for restoration and farming. By using genetic sequencing to catalogue existing kelp cultures and building an open-access database, it will help identify vulnerable and resilient populations while reducing reliance on unpredictable wild harvests. The project brings together stakeholders to co-develop shared methods for seaweed biobanking, building capacity across researchers, industry, and First Nations partners.
Through collaboration, innovation, and respect for diverse knowledge systems, the nine projects above will contribute meaningful knowledge and tools to ocean scientists, industry, and coastal communities. MEOPAR is thrilled to support this incredible cohort of early career researchers from across Canada.
