Large commercial ships are a familiar sight in our coastal waters, but with them come new challenges for ocean health. With increasing demand, more ships are waiting at anchor in coastal anchorages, deep-water areas that are home to rich but little-studied ecosystems. Working together with partners, we’re using cutting-edge tools like multibeam mapping and underwater robots to see what’s happening beneath the surface and understand how anchoring changes the ocean floor and the species that live there.

Dr. Cathryn Murray is a Research Scientist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia. Cathryn is a marine ecologist broadly interested in the interaction between human and natural systems. She holds a PhD in biological oceanography from the University of British Columbia and a Master’s of Science from James Cook University in Australia. Cathryn has conducted interdisciplinary research on a broad range of topics, from the impacts of marine debris and invasive species to cumulative effects assessment, and ecosystem-based management.