Marine Biologist

Joined LGL in 2006

Degrees & Diplomas

Research Interests

• Marine mammal behaviour
• Marine mammals and noise
• Marine mammal surveys
• Critical habitat assessment
• Marine mammal photo-identification
• Environmental effects monitoring
• Offshore oil and gas

Capsule Resume

Patrick has been involved in marine mammal research since 1999. His initial work focused on pinnipeds while investigating Weddell seal underwater vocalizations around Antarctica. He spent a full year at Mawson, an Australian Antarctic station, collecting field data for this study. He also collaborated with the Australian Antarctic Division on sea-ice surveys and diet studies of Antarctic seals.

Patrick has since participated in a number of marine mammal surveys, both aerial and ship-based, with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Eastern Canada. These include aerial surveys of large whales off Newfoundland and Labrador in 2002, visual and acoustic ship-based surveys of northern bottlenose whales in the Gully, off the Scotian Shelf, in 2003, and harp seal aerial surveys off Newfoundland and Labrador in 2004. Since joining LGL, Patrick has been involved in seismic and controlled source electromagnetic monitoring programs and reports, as well as developing environmental assessments for offshore oil and gas exploration.

Patrick has also participated in the teaching of various marine mammal biology field courses for university students since 2001 at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, and at Memorial University's field station in Bonne Bay, Newfoundland. He is currently completing his Ph.D. at Memorial University of Newfoundland where he is studying the distribution of large whales relative to critical habitat in Newfoundland and Labrador.