DAVID MATTILA

David Mattila is a Senior Scientist at the Center for Coastal Studies (CCS), and has directed humpback whale studies there since 1980, focusing on humpback Gulf of Maine feeding grounds and their principal breeding grounds in the Greater Antilles. He received the "Ocean Hero Award" from the Smithsonian Institution in 1994 for his work promoting international conservation and scientific collaboration. In 1999, he was awarded the "Environmental Hero Award" by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Mattila was one of the originators of the "Years of the North Atlantic Humpback" (YONAH) project, which is the largest study of a single whale species ever attempted. He has authored over 20 scientific papers, and has served as an advisor to the Silver Bank Humpback Whale Sanctuary Commission (Dominican Republic), the Gerry E. Studds/Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Sanctuary. He is also a member of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team and the international YONAH Executive Committee, which has been charged with producing a comprehensive assessment of North Atlantic humpback whales. Since 1984 Mattila and his colleagues have developed equipment and techniques to attach to and restrain free-swimming whales in order to release them from lethal entanglements in fishing gear. Because of their unique experience, the U.S. government has contracted them to design, train, equip and coordinate a "disentanglement network", which responds to entangled whale reports from Canada to Florida. Mattila directs both the Center's disentanglement program, as well as the "Atlantic Large Whale Disentanglement Network."

ABSTRACT

Recent information about where, why and which large whales become entangled in New England waters will be presented. In addition, since 1984, when the Center for Coastal Studies developed tools and techniques to "disentangle" large whales from fishing gear, over 50 large whales have been rescued. A brief summary of what we have learned will be shared. Because of our unique expertise, the National Marine Fisheries Service has contracted CCS to design, train, equip and coordinate a large whale "Disentanglement Network" in order to respond to entangled whales from Canada to Florida. An overview of the Network will be presented