Program directory · Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Aquatic Ecosystem Science
- Department
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada
- Program code
- BTG05 (FO)
- Core responsibility
- Aquatic Ecosystems
- In Departmental Plans
- 2018-19 – 2026-27 · New since an earlier plan
What it does
Building on investments in scientific expertise, technology, and enhanced partnerships, DFO will conduct scientific research and monitoring activities to better understand aquatic ecosystems, ultimately creating a stronger evidence base for decision-making.
Source: the department's Program Inventory, via GC InfoBase.
History and lineage
First appears in GC InfoBase's actual spending by program in 2018-19. The data does not record when a program was created; it may be older than its first appearance here, which is limited by the sources (program spending starts in 2010-11, Departmental Plans in 2018-19).
| Program | Relation | Years with data | Actual spending over those years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aquatic Ecosystem Science | This program | 2018-19 – 2028-29 | $788M |
No earlier or later program in the same department has a similar name.
Significant changes in scope and budget
Detected from the data: renames between plans, programs it appears to replace, merge with or split into (matched by name), year-over-year changes in spending of at least 25% and $5M, or in employees of at least 20% and 25 FTEs, linked budget measures, and results indicators added or dropped.
| Year | What changed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | Spending $101M, against $67.6M in 2018-19 (+50%). | Actual spending (GC InfoBase) |
| 2023-24 | Indicators added: % of scheduled Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) processes for peer-reviewed science advice on aquatic ecosystems completed each year | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2023-24 | Indicators dropped: % of scheduled science advisory processes on aquatic ecosystems that were completed | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2026-27 | Planned employees (FTEs) 454, against 650 in 2025-26 (−30%). | FTEs (GC InfoBase) |
| 2026-27 | Planned spending $87.3M, against $142M in 2025-26 (−39%). | Latest Departmental Plan |
Success criteria
The program's indicators from its department's Departmental Results Framework: the target set in each year's plan, and the result reported the following year. Source: GC InfoBase.
Historical: targets against results
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | ≥ 90% | 2024 | 87% Result for 2023-2024 reflects the adoption of a multi-year approach to advisory processes and captures all processes undertaken. The calculation includes all aquatic ecosystem science advisory processes completed in the fiscal year. Changes came into effect in 2023–24 to clarify and better reflect the Department’s work. | Not met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ 90% | 2025 | 100% | Met |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 90% | 2019 | 100% | Met |
| 2019-20 | ≥ 90% | 2020 | 77% Seven scheduled science advisory processes were delayed. Processes were deferred due to changing client sector requirements and issues related to Science capacity and data availability. Steps are in place to improve the prioritization and definition of requirements. | Not met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ 90% | 2021 | 77% Some of the planned advisory processes were deferred due to COVID-19 restrictions and other challenges or were withdrawn. | Not met |
| 2021-22 | ≥ 95% | 2022 | 69% Additional processes were deferred due to operational challenges. | Not met |
| 2022-23 | ≥ 95% | 2023 | 76% Some of the planned advisory processes were cancelled or deferred due to operational challenges. | Not met |
Current: the 2026-27 plan's targets
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 90% | 2027 | — | Planned |
Future goals: targets due after 2026-27
No targets with a later due date.
Spending and employees: planned against actual
Spending
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | $53.8M | $67.6M |
| 2019-20 | $53M | $101M |
| 2020-21 | $115M | $104M |
| 2021-22 | $74.5M | $109M |
| 2022-23 | $100M | $131M |
| 2023-24 | $120M | $138M |
| 2024-25 | $141M | $138M |
| 2025-26 | $142M | — |
| 2026-27 | $87.3M | — |
| 2027-28 | $68.3M* | — |
| 2028-29 | $64.3M* | — |
Employees (FTEs)
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 326 | 468 |
| 2019-20 | 424 | 475 |
| 2020-21 | 457 | 517 |
| 2021-22 | 448 | 568 |
| 2022-23 | 503 | 654 |
| 2023-24 | 481 | 666 |
| 2024-25 | 563 | 674 |
| 2025-26 | 650 | — |
| 2026-27 | 454 | — |
| 2027-28 | 423* | — |
| 2028-29 | 391* | — |
Planned spending, plan by plan
Each row is one year's Departmental Plan and its forecast for the next three fiscal years; read a column down to see how the forecast for one year changed. The last row is what was actually spent. Click an amount for its source. Biggest changes in federal spending plans
| Plan | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 plan | $53,797,801 | $53,234,896 | $52,663,452 | ||||||||
| 2019-20 plan | $52,971,846 | $52,830,185 | $49,725,065 | ||||||||
| 2020-21 plan | $115,178,200 | $77,464,386 | $69,363,768 | ||||||||
| 2021-22 plan | $74,517,577 | $64,925,894 | $44,519,048 | ||||||||
| 2022-23 plan | $100,065,512 | $76,014,863 | $72,458,170 | ||||||||
| 2023-24 plan | $119,711,281 | $115,089,190 | $113,650,137 | ||||||||
| 2024-25 plan | $141,447,227 | $132,020,885 | $82,930,417 | ||||||||
| 2025-26 plan | $142,158,866 | $85,315,789 | $66,102,821 | ||||||||
| 2026-27 plan | $87,349,814 | $68,266,698 | $64,283,506 | ||||||||
| Actual | $67,567,801 | $101,243,878 | $103,615,521 | $108,823,557 | $131,245,115 | $137,615,226 | $138,258,007 |
Actual spending is from Departmental Results Reports and the Public Accounts, as published in GC InfoBase. FTEs are full-time equivalents.
