Ocean Tracking Network
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersHalifax, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Ocean Tracking Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ocean Tracking Network
- Legal name
- Ocean Tracking Network
- Website
- https://oceantrackingnetwork.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Ocean Tracking Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Halifax
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ocean Tracking Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Government Research Funding: OTN receives major funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation's Major Science Initiatives Fund. This funding supports the unique operating and maintenance needs of Canada's leading research facilities. Additional funding comes from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) for specific projects like acoustic receiver arrays and marine monitoring.
- Conservation Partnership (Tag! You're It!): OTN partners with Big Spruce Brewing on the Tag! You're It! conservation financing beer, where 50 cents from every can is allocated to Canadian marine conservation organizations. Since 2017, this partnership has raised over $150,000 for community-based coastal conservation efforts.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Ocean Tracking Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
OTN operates a global acoustic telemetry research infrastructure that documents the movements and survival of aquatic animals across five oceans and seven continents. Its core deliverable is a centralized Data Centre that cross-matches detection data from a network of 2,800+ acoustic receivers and partner nodes, complemented by marine autonomous gliders, ROV services, and an equipment loaner program that together support 1,145+ researchers tracking 300+ species.
Product overview
Ocean Tracking Network is a global aquatic research infrastructure platform that operates as a unified system of interconnected components. The core platform centers on the OTN Data Centre, which manages detection data from the global network of approximately 2,800 acoustic receivers deployed worldwide. Supporting this are the Marine Glider Program (using Slocum and Wave Gliders for ocean monitoring), the Falcon ROV for deep-water operations, and the Equipment Loaner Program that expands receiver coverage globally. The OTN Data Portal provides researcher access to over 1 billion detection records. The network also includes community-focused offerings like the weekly Study Hall, ideasOTN for early career researchers, the annual OTN Symposium, and the Tag! You're It! conservation financing initiative partnered with Big Spruce Brewing. All components feed into OTN's mission to track, connect, and transform understanding of aquatic species and ocean ecosystems.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Tag! You're It!: A conservation financing beer partnership between OTN and Big Spruce Brewing, where 50 cents from every can supports Canadian organizations working to protect coastal and aquatic environments.
Products and services
- Ocean Tracking Network Platform A global aquatic research, data management and partnership platform that integrates biological, oceanographic, and social sciences to track aquatic species and support conservation efforts worldwide. Headquartered at Dalhousie University.
- OTN Data Centre The centralized data management hub that coordinates cross-node detection matching events every ~4 months, generates detection extracts in CSV and Parquet formats, and manages over 1 billion detection records from OTN and compatible nodes.
- OTN Data Portal A member-facing web platform (members.oceantrack.org) where researchers can view projects, access detection data, and manage their contributions to the global tracking network.
- Acoustic Telemetry Network A global network of approximately 2,800 moored acoustic receivers deployed in key aquatic locations worldwide, with equipment loaned to researchers to create truly global tracking coverage across oceans and freshwater systems.
- Marine Glider Program An autonomous oceanographic monitoring program using Teledyne Webb Research Slocum gliders and Liquid Robotics Wave Gliders with hydrophones to detect endangered whale calls and transmit locations in near real-time to regulatory bodies. The first and most expansive hydrophone-equipped glider program of its kind.
- Equipment Loaner Program A program that loans acoustic receivers to researchers globally to foster connections to existing receiver arrays and expand the network's tracking coverage.
- Detection Extract Data Products Standardized detection extract files generated by OTN and partner nodes, available in CSV and Parquet formats, containing animal detection records matched across the global network during quarterly Data Push events.
- Falcon ROV Services A 1,000-metre rated Saab Seaeye Falcon DR remotely operated vehicle equipped with HD camera, ultra-short baseline acoustic tracking, multi-beam sonar, and sampling arm for maintenance, recovery of tracking equipment, and deep-water habitat research.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1 billion animal detection records managed across global network
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Ocean Tracking Network
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ocean Tracking Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Ocean Tracking Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, major and minor.
- Loughs Agency (MOSAIC Project Lead)flagshipLeading the €8M MOSAIC (Multi-disciplinary Ocean Sensing for Adaptive International Conservation) project, a PEACEPLUS-funded initiative bringing together 11 partners across Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Canada. OTN contributes expertise in aquatic telemetry data systems and data management.
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)coreAwarded $700K grant to deploy new acoustic receiver array in Fundian Channel-Browns Bank Area of Interest. Additionally provided $1M support for 200 new acoustic receivers for OTN's national loaner pool. DFO works with OTN on shark monitoring programs.
- US Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) - BioTrack InitiativemajorOTN participates in BioTrack initiative which combines data from 51 investigators across OTN, iTAG, FACT Network, and ACT Network to create a 40M+ occurrence data series spanning 69 species at 3,500 listening stations.
- Horizon Europe / STRAITS ProjectflagshipSTRAITS (Strategic Infrastructure for Improved Animal Tracking in European Seas) is a four-year, 3.5-million-euro project that will deploy tracking equipment in major swimways across Europe. OTN is one of 10 organizations working to advance understanding of aquatic animal movements.
- Horizon 2020 SponGES ProjectminorCollaboration with sponge researchers studying Russian Hat sponge habitats. OTN's Halifax Line moorings provide samples for reproduction and molecular genetics studies, turning what was biofouling into scientific opportunity.
- Coastal Action (Ghost Gear Retrieval Project)minorOTN is among 40 partners on a ghost fishing gear retrieval project. OTN uses its Edgetech 4205 side scan sonar to improve retrieval process by identifying lost gear on the seafloor.
- SeaMonitor Project (EU INTERREG VA)coreLed by Loughs Agency with €4.7M funding from EU's INTERREG VA Programme. OTN contributes tracking equipment, expertise, and assists with deployment of acoustic receivers and marine autonomous vehicles equipped with mobile transceivers.
- New England White Shark Research ConsortiumcoreOTN contributes acoustic receivers and data warehouse to the consortium's white shark tracking efforts in Canadian waters. Tag detections contribute to population modeling by COSEWIC.
- Big Spruce Brewing (Tag! You're It!)corePartnership producing the Tag! You're It! conservation financing beer. Since 2017, 50 cents from every can supports Canadian marine conservation organizations. Has raised over $150,000 for coastal and aquatic environment protection.
- FACT NetworkcorePartner node network for acoustic telemetry. OTN collaborates with compatible nodes worldwide for cross-matching detection data.
- US Animal Telemetry NetworkcorePartner network for animal telemetry. OTN collaborates on cross-node detection matching.
- Integrated Marine Observing System - Animal TrackingcoreInternational partner for marine animal tracking. Part of OTN's global partner ecosystem.
- European Telemetry NetworkcoreEuropean partner network for animal tracking. Collaborates with OTN on cross-border tracking initiatives.
- Acoustic Tracking Array PlatformcorePartner platform for acoustic tracking. Part of OTN's collaborative ecosystem for global tracking.
- Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE)minorOTN provided significant in-kind support for FORCE's $8.2M Natural Resources Canada-funded tidal energy initiative, strengthening partnerships in Canada's renewable energy research landscape.
- Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC)minorCollaboration with NSCC's Ocean Technology program for hands-on learning experiences. OTN has provided placement opportunities and ROV training demonstrations at Dalhousie's Aquatron Laboratory.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Ocean Tracking Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentPeers
Direct peers
- Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS): Australia's national marine observing system, including an Animal Tracking facility that deploys acoustic receivers and manages detection data across the Australian region. IMOS is the most direct functional peer to OTN: both operate national acoustic telemetry networks, run cross-node detection matching, and serve research communities through centralized data portals.
- Acoustic Tracking Array Platform (ATAP): South Africa's acoustic telemetry platform operated by the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity. ATAP is a direct peer to OTN — both run acoustic receiver networks, coordinate cross-node detection matching globally, and share data via the Ocean Tracking Network partner-node ecosystem.
- Florida Atlantic Coast Telemetry (FACT) Network: A regional acoustic telemetry array along the US Southeast and Gulf of Mexico, operated in partnership with the US Animal Telemetry Network. FACT is a direct OTN partner node and serves the same research customer base with overlapping acoustic telemetry infrastructure.
- US Animal Telemetry Network (ATN): US national acoustic and satellite telemetry observing network, with regional arrays covering Atlantic, Pacific, and Caribbean waters. ATN is a core OTN partner node for cross-node detection matching and serves overlapping researcher and species-tracking use cases.
- European Tracking Network (ETN): A Europe-wide acoustic telemetry data platform coordinated through LifeWatch Belgium. ETN is a direct OTN peer and partner node, sharing cross-matching infrastructure for tracking aquatic species across European waters.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ocean Tracking Network social profiles
Digital presenceOcean Tracking Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ocean Tracking Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Ocean Tracking Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ocean Tracking Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ocean Tracking Network
What does Ocean Tracking Network do?
OTN operates a global acoustic telemetry research infrastructure that documents the movements and survival of aquatic animals across five oceans and seven continents. Its core deliverable is a centralized Data Centre that cross-matches detection data from a network of 2,800+ acoustic receivers and partner nodes, complemented by marine autonomous gliders, ROV services, and an equipment loaner program that together support 1,145+ researchers tracking 300+ species.
Is Ocean Tracking Network a public or private company?
Ocean Tracking Network is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Ocean Tracking Network founded?
Ocean Tracking Network was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ocean Tracking Network based?
Ocean Tracking Network is headquartered in Halifax, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Ocean Tracking Network make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Government Research Funding is the primary driver. The others are conservation Partnership (Tag! You're It!).
Who are Ocean Tracking Network's main competitors?
Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS) is listed as a peer. Direct peers are Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS), Acoustic Tracking Array Platform (ATAP), Florida Atlantic Coast Telemetry (FACT) Network, US Animal Telemetry Network (ATN) and European Tracking Network (ETN).
Does Ocean Tracking Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ocean Tracking Network.