Supported by MPRI grant from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the project focuses on using autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to support Canada’s oil spill response capability. AUVs can collect data beneath the sea surface that is very difficult and expensive to collect using traditional ship based sampling methods, and can be outfitted with sensor systems that enable measuring oil concentration in the water column. We characterized the AUV system and mission requirements to collect vital data during and after an oil spill event safely and by minimizing the deployment of personnel into hazardous environments. Such data will help inform Canadian Incident Response regarding how oil is spreading beneath the ocean’s surface and provide insight regarding resilience of the marine habitat as it recovers from an oil spill. 1