Project leader: Jennifer Sunday
Sector: Environment
Budget: 757 409,00 $

Start date: 01 January 2021 End date: 31 December 2023

Canada is investing in Marine Protected Areas (MPA), with approximately 800 000 km2 under protection, to preserve marine biodiversity and promote healthy, functional, and resilient marine ecosystems. However current biodiversity sampling methods are inadequate to monitor biodiversity within a conservation network of this size. The project team proposes to use environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding to evaluate and optimize marine monitoring survey designs. The results of this project will be the first quantitative evaluation of eDNA survey design in a marine setting and will provide a foundation for decisions in monitoring investment using this technology in the Canadian Conservation Network.

Co-project leader – User:

EmilyRubidgeFisheries and Oceans Canada
RyanStanleyFisheries and Oceans Canada