New funding for UVic’s Experimental Ocean Climate Change Lab (EXCEL) will support research on the impact of climate change on the environment and the promotion of resilience and sustainability for B.C.’s marine sector.

As part of the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund, the province is providing $175,000 to establish EXCEL, which will use state-of-the-art equipment to measure the effects of marine climate change on organisms. Analyzing which species of B.C.’s coastal ecosystem are most sensitive to changes in ocean conditions is crucial to identifying vulnerabilities, enhancing fisheries, and protecting biodiversity.

“Understanding the effects of climate change on our coast will help us better protect our fisheries and aquaculture, and the people who rely on them,” said Brenda Bailey, minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. “Our government supports this vital research, which will help secure fish and crustaceans as valuable food sources, boost productivity, and contribute to the resilience of the province’s economy.”

At EXCEL, UVic researchers will use experimental aquariums that can regulate temperature, oxygen levels, and pH in a controlled environment to create scenarios for predicting marine climate change. This will allow researchers to study species abundance, geographic shifts, food web models, and biodiversity change.

“The current marine heat wave and its impact on ocean ecosystems is one example of why we need research to mitigate the consequences of climate change. UVic has been a leader in climate research for three decades,” said Lisa Kalynchuk, vice-president of research and innovation at UVic. “We are grateful for this investment in the Experimental Ocean Climate Change Lab, which will creatively probe causes, impacts, and solutions for these devastating, climate-linked events.”