JUNE 2026 UPDATES

World Oceans Day reminded us how much our oceans drive Canada's communities, environment, and economy, and how much opportunity is opening up across the blue economy.

This year, Ocean Alliance Canada is advancing Indigenous Ocean Futures, a project supporting Indigenous participation in ocean careers through training, skills development, and community partnerships. We're grateful to the organizations and communities helping shape this work.

We're also preparing for the 3rd Annual Sustainable Blue Economy Summit this September in Halifax, bringing together leaders from industry, government, academia, Indigenous organizations, and coastal communities to turn ocean potential into real-world impact.

Thank you for being part of this growing network. More below, and we look forward to connecting with many of you in the months ahead.

Krystyna Urbancic

Become a Certified Sustainable Blue Economy Professional

Show employers your skills, credibility, and commitment to the global ocean sector with the SBEP designation.

Indigenous Ocean Futures: Update

This quarter, we built and piloted three new microcredentials in partnership with Benoit Cove Community, the Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq, and the Mi'kmaq Employment Training Secretariat. The pilots continue through the end of September. Interested in training for your community or organization?

Email uabiha@eco.ca.

• The Hon. Iris Petten | Senate of Canada
• Akash Rastogi | Chief Capital Strategy Officer, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
• Dr. Erin Bertrand | Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair, Dalhousie University, Acting Scientific Director, Ocean Frontier Institute
• Levi Morrison | Director of Innovation, COVE

Plus five more confirmed leaders from finance, innovation, and research.

See the full speaker lineup.

Student Work Placement Funding

Did you know ECO Canada's Student Work Placement Program covers ocean-based roles? Eligible employers can receive wage funding to hire post-secondary students into environmental and blue economy positions.

Learn more about Student Work Placement

ECO Canada has also partnered with Students on Ice to support placements through their Blue Futures Pathways program.

See the Blue Futures Pathways Internship Program

ECO Canada and Ocean Alliance Canada are growing our international footprint in the Caribbean.

ECO Canada CEO Kevin Nilsen, VP of Professional Services Sr. Yogendra Chaudhry and Professor Ibrahim Ajagunna CMU visit fish harvesters on the small island of Pedro Cays, Jamaica to discuss the impacts of ALDFG (abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear).

Meeting with Senior Executives at the University of the West Indies to discuss program accreditation broadly across all UWI campuses in Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, as well as some smaller satellites in the Caribbean.

New Events

Strategic Coastal Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Planning

July 21–22 | 10 AM–6 PM EDT | Online | Free

Register here

3rd Annual Sustainable Blue Economy Summit 2026

September 18 | The Westin Nova Scotian, Halifax, NS

Register here

New Report

Indigenous Considerations in Marine Transportation Decarbonization in NL, developed in partnership with Econext, is now available.

Read the report

New Toolkit

The Indigenous Women Leadership Toolkit is now available, with practical tools and resources for growth, resilience, and community leadership.

Download the toolkit

Free Digital Learning

Ocean Entrepreneurship Micro-Credential

16 hours | All Career Stages | 16 SBEP PD Credits | $375

Ocean Governance (Canada) Micro-Credential

13 hours | All Career Stages | 24 SBEP PD Credits | $265

Ocean Governance (International) Micro-Credential

18 hours | All Career Stages | 12 SBEP PD Credits | $265

Proposal Writing for the Blue Economy Micro-Credential

16 hours | All Career Stages | 16 SBEP PD Credits | $265

Ocean Industry and Indigenous Stewardship Micro-Credential

13 hours | All Career Stages | 8 SBEP PD Credits | $149

AI Enabled Ocean Professional Micro-Credential

19 hours | All Career Stages | 12 SBEP PD Credits | $265

Connect with us for more blue economy news, jobs, and resources.  

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