Véronique Lesage

Cetacean research scientist
Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Maurice Lamontagne Institute

To better understand whales in peril

While working on her Bachelor’s degree at Laval University, Véronique Lesage participated in a study on the energetics of eider ducks. She was fascinated by the fragile equilibrium that exists between the physical condition and the feeding strategies of these diving birds. She realized that marine mammals faced similar challenge, as friends of hers were doing similar studies on these animals. Add to this well kept secrets and the gracefulness of marine mammals and it’s easy to understand how she was smitten. Instead of starting a master’s thesis on algae, as planned, she found herself working with Mike Hammil of Fisheries and Oceans Canada studying the effects of sound on beluga whales. She followed up with a doctoral thesis on harbour seals; another threatened marine mammal species in the St. Lawrence.

She is now responsible for cetacean research in Northern Quebec and in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence for Fisheries and Oceans, Laurentian region. She is particularly concerned with the study of endangered cetacean species in Canada.

Her time is shared between her office at the Maurice Lamontagne Institute in Mont-Joli and work in the field. At the office, her work includes administrative duties, reviewing scientific articles, analysis of research results, writing, and meeting with colleagues. In short, she has a varied workload aimed at completing several projects on the following subjects: beluga whaling in Northern Quebec, accidental entanglement of harbour porpoises, diet and diving behaviour of St. Lawrence belugas, feeding behaviour and distribution of the fin whales of the Estuary, the effects of noise pollution on beluga whales, etc. All of these projects lead her to travel to Northern Quebec and the Gulf and Estuary of St. Lawrence and to collaborate with numerous researchers from Fisheries and Oceans, various universities and private groups.

Her job includes many challenges that Ms. Lesage accepts with enthusiasm.

Research project :

• Harbour seals, residents or seasonal visitors?
• What roles do marine mammals play in St. Lawrence ecosystems?
• What do blue whales do underwater?
• What do belugas do underwater?
• Are St. Lawrence harbour porpoise still victims of bycatch?

Whales Online asked Véronique Lesage :

• The St. Lawrence belugas are endangered. What about the belugas living in Northern Quebec?

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