Canadian Hydrographic Services (CHS)

Since 1883, the Canadian Hydrographic Service has studied Canadian waters to ensure their safe, sustainable, and navigable use.

Canada has the longest coastline of any country in the world, with more than a third of our territory under water. Our lakes, rivers, and oceans are used by millions of craft every year for:

• carriage of passengers and goods by sea;
• national defense;
• fishing and industry; and
• recreation and tourism.

Using technological advancements and more than a century of expertise, the CHS has become a recognized world leader in hydrography.

The CHS is a division of the science branch of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). With access to Canadian Coast Guard ships, the CHS takes advantage of every opportunity to take hydrographic and oceanographic measurements. We conduct regular field surveys, especially for higher risk, higher priority areas.