Dylan Smyth, MSc Student
Cetacean Conservation Program Associate
Dylan is an aquatic sciences technician with a focus on marine mammal ecology and conservation. After graduating in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science, Dylan spent several years working on various projects involving juvenile salmon survival before switching gears to marine mammals. He loves being on the water, playing with boats, drones, and various other scientific toys. His keen interest, and ear, for marine mammal acoustics has given him the privilege of working with a variety of organizations such as OrcaLab, Ocean Wise, and DFO.
After nearly 10 years of field work up and down British Columbia’s coastline, Dylan is now returning to school to pursue a Masters degree with the University of the Algarve in Portugal. Working closely in collaboration with Raincoast and Simon Fraser University, his research will investigate the effects of anthropogenic noise on southern resident killer whale call type selection.
Recent articles
Study: Toxic hydrocarbon hotspots in BC coastal sediments, threatening Southern Resident killer whales and Chinook salmon
Burgeoning marine traffic to bring more toxic hydrocarbons to killer…
Give killer whales a voice…for years to come
What it takes to power conservation that lasts.
To restore salmon habitat, one must act like the beaver
Rebuilding riparian habitat, one stick at a time.
Keeping watch on the Salish Sea
Janine McNeilly tells us how she fell in love with…
No trust in the Trust
The Islands Trust draft Trust Policy Statement has veered off…
What our estuary salmon fieldwork crews are up to
Reflections from seven (going on eight) years of fieldwork in…
Guided by mom: The matriarchal world of killer whales
Like us, motherhood is a lifetime commitment for these mammals.
A mother’s reflection, it takes a pack
Whether in a village or a wolf pack, caring for…