CURRICULUM VITAE
David K. Mattila
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Science and Rescue Coordinator to the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine
Sanctuary (2001- Present)
Provide science and rescue coordination for the HIHWNMS. Duties include: refining and
implementing Research component of Management Plan, train and establish whale rescue
capabilities, conduct research for the Sanctuary, Coordinate Hawaiian component of the SPLASH
Project.
Director and Principal Investigator, Humpback Whale Population Studies (1994 - 2002)
Investigations of the population biology of the great whales of the North Atlantic, with an emphasis
on the humpback whale. Primary study areas include the Gulf of Maine and the greater Caribbean.
Supervision of the Center’s photo-identification laboratory. Direction of annual research cruises
throughout the Gulf of Maine.
Director of Whale Disentanglement (1997 - 2002)
Co-founder of CCS whale disentanglement program in 1984. Between 1997 and 2002, in
consultation with NMFS, established the current disentanglement Network, and directed its responses
to large whale entanglements in fishing gear from the Bay of Fundy to the Florida coast.
Responsibilities included primary disentangler, as well as supervision of staff, formulation of
protocols, outreach and training. Primary CCS liasion with the National Marine Fisheries Service and
US Coast Guard.
Director and Principal Investigator, Carribbean Studies (1981 – 1994)
Investigations of the seasonal occurrence of humpback whales throughout their North Atlantic
breeding range. Direction of projects involving the photographic identification of individuals,
collection of skin samples for genetic analysis, detailed behavioral observations and recording the
songs and other vocalizations of humpback whales. Winter field expeditions have been conducted in
the following areas: Puerto Rico (1977-1984), Silver Bank (multi-organizational expedition in 1984),
the Lesser Antilles (1985), Virgin Bank (1985-1986), and the northeast coast of the Dominican
Republic (1987-1991). Asked to plan and direct a pilot study of North Pacific humpback whales on
Penguin Bank in the Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary in 1996.
Director and Principal Investigator, YONAH West Indies Sub Project (1992 – 1993)
Designed and executed the breeding ground portion of the international Years of the North Atlantic
Humpback Whale (YONAH) project. Coordinated extensive field work in four areas of the West
Indies, Silver Bank, Navidad Bank, Samana Bay and Puerto Rico. Collection of over 1,500 biopsy
samples, with correlated photo-identification and behavioral data.
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CURRICULUM VITAE
David K. Mattila
Director and Principal Investigator (1986 – 1989)
Supervised Gulf of Maine humpback whale population, behavior and habitat studies. Initiated the
expansion of the Center's population studies of humpback whales (and other great whale species) to
include directed investigations of all known habitats throughout the Gulf of Maine region.
Professional Mariner (1973-present)
Captain of CCS research vessels, 100 ton ocean operators license, first mate on commercial tug boat,
yacht deliveries.
Commercial Fisherman (1971-1979)
Served on sea clam dredge boats, small ground fish gill net boats off Virginia, hand tong oyster boats in
the Chesapeake Bay, and a swordfish long line vessel out of Cape Cod.
ADVISORY WORK
2007 – Present Member and Chair of the steering committee for the first international conference on
marine mammal protected areas.
2006 - Present Member U.S. scientific delegation to the International Whaling Commission.
2006 – Present Technical Advisor to Scretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, Whale
and Dolphin Action Plan
2005 – Present Technical Advisor to Commission for Environmental Cooperation, Humpback Whale
NACAP (North American Conservation Action Plan; Mexico, US, Canada).
2001 - 2005
Invited Participant Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission
Scientific Committee, London (2001), Japan (2002), Italy (2004) and Korea (2005).
North Atlantic Humpback Whale Comprehensive Assessment, Cetacean Bycatch, and
Southern Hemisphere Subcommittees.
1997 – 2004. Scientific Advisor Federally mandated Large Whale Take Reduction Team, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
1996 –2002. Scientific Advisor Humpback and right whale recovery implementation team.
1996
Advisor Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, through invited
participation in research plan workshop and a pilot study of the humpback whales on
Penguin Bank, Hawaii.
1990 – present. Executive Committee Member YONAH project and data archive.
1986 – 1994. Elected Board Member and co-manager (1982-1991) North Atlantic Marine Mammal
Association.
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CURRICULUM VITAE
David K. Mattila
1989 – 1991.
Consultant Greenland Fisheries Research Institute and the University of Copenhagen in
collaborative photo-identification and genetic studies of humpback and finback whales
along the west coast of Greenland.
AWARDS
NOAA Administrator’s Award 2006
Wildlife Rescue Award (HSUS, IFAW, MSPCA), 2002
NOAA Evironmental Hero Award, 1999
Friend to the Silver Bank Whale Sanctuary, awarded by the Dominican Republic
Smithsonian Institute Ocean Hero, 1996
FUNDING SOURCES
National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. State Department, U.S. Marine Mammal Commission,
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine
Sanctuary, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Department of Natural Resources (Puerto Rico), World
Wildlife Fund U.S., the Smithsonian Institution, the Oceanic Society, the Center for Marine Conservation,
the Nature Conservancy, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, the International Fund for Animal
Welfare, the International Wildlife Coalition, American Cetacean Society, Cetacean Society International,
numerous Private Foundations, corporate and private donors.
EDUCATION
Clatsop Community College
Astoria, Oregon
A.S. Oceanographic Technology, 1973
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington
1969-1971
PUBLICATIONS, REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS
Baraff, L. S., P. J. Clapham and D. K. Mattila. 1991. Feeding behavior of a humpback whale in low-latitude
waters. Marine Mammal Science 7(2): 197-202.
Bowman, B., E. Lyman, D. Mattila, C. A. Mayo. 1999. Developing a network of marine professionals for the
rescue of entangled whales. Abstract in the proceedings of the 13th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine
Mammals. Maui, Hawaii.
Clapham, P. J. and D. K. Mattila. 1988. Observations of migratory transits of two humpback whales. Marine
Mammal Science 4(1): 59-62.
Clapham, P. J. and D. K. Mattila. 1990. Humpback whale songs as indicators of migration routes. Marine
Mammal Science 6(2): 155-160.
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CURRICULUM VITAE
David K. Mattila
Clapham, P. J., P. J. Palsbøll, D. K. Mattila and O. Vasquez. 1992. Composition and dynamics of humpback
whale competitive groups in the West Indies. Behaviour 122: 182-194.
Clapham, P. J., L.S. Baraff, C. A. Carlson, M. A. Christian, D. K. Mattila, C. A. Mayo, M. A. Murphy and S.
Pittman 1993. Seasonal occurrence and annual return of humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, in the
southern Gulf of Maine. Canadian Journal of Zoology 71: 440-443.
Clapham, P. J., P. J. Palsbøll and D. K. Mattila. 1993. High-energy behaviors in humpback whales as a source of
sloughed skin for molecular analysis. Marine Mammal Science 9(2): 213-220.
Clapham, P. J. and D. K. Mattila. 1993. Reactions of humpback whales to skin biopsy sampling in the West
Indies. Marine Mammal Science 9(4): 382-391.
Clapham, P. J., Palsbøll, D. K. Mattila and O. Vasquez. 1992. Composition and dynamics of humpback whale
competitive groups in the West Indies. Behaviour 122: 182-194.
Clapham, P. J., D. K. Mattila and. P. J. Palsbøll. 1993. High-latitude composition of humpback whale competitive
groups in Samana Bay: further evidence for panmixis in the North Atlantic population. Canadian Journal of
Zoology 71: 1065-1066.
Clapham, P. J., M. Bérubé and D. K. Mattila. 1995. Sex ratio of the Gulf of Maine humpback whale population.
Marine Mammal Science 11(2): 227-231.
Clapham, P., J. Barlow, T. Cole, D. Mattila, R. Pace, D. Palka and J. Robbins. 2001. Stock definition, abundance
and demographic parameters of humpback whales from the Gulf of Maine. Unpublished report to the Scientific
Committee of the International Whaling Commission. SC/53/NAH10. 18 pp. Manuscript submitted to Fishery
Bulletin.
Clapham P., P. Berggren, R. Leaper, D. Mattila, J. Robbins. 2003. Report of the Intersessional Working Group on
Large Whale Entanglement. Unpublished report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling
Commission. SC/54/BC2
Friday, N., T. Smith, P. Hammond, J. Robbins and D. Mattila. 2001. Modeling the effects of behaviour and
population dynamics on capture-recapture estimates of abundance of humpback whales. Unpublished report to the
Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission. SC/53/NAH14. 18 pp.
Lake, J., R. McKinney, R. Haebler, P. J. Clapham, D. K. Mattila and M. T. Weinrich. 1997. Chlorinated organic
compounds in humpback whales and sandlance from the northeast coast of the United States. Final report for
RARE Project.
Lyman E., B. Bowman, D. Mattila and C. A. Mayo. 1999. A technique for disentangling large free-swimming
whales. Abstract in the proceedings of the 13th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. Maui,
Hawaii.
Martin, A. R., S. K. Katona, D. Mattila, D. Hembree and T. D. Waters. 1984. Migration of humpback whales
between the Caribbean and Iceland. Journal of Mammalogy 65: 330-333.
PUBLICATIONS, REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS
(Continued)
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CURRICULUM VITAE
David K. Mattila
Mayo, C.A., C. Carlson, P.J. Clapham and D. K. Mattila. 1985. Humpback whales of the southern Gulf of Maine:
a field guide to the identification of individuals. Shankpainter Press, Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Mayo, C. A., D. K. Mattila, S. Pittman and L. Baraff. 1988. Abundance, distribution and habitat use of large
whales in Massachusetts Bay and the Great South Channel. Northeast Fish. Cent. National Marine Fisheries
Service. Contract 50-EANF-6-00059. 152p.
Mattila, D.K. 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984. Fluke identification survey and song recordings of humpback
whales along the northwest coast of Puerto Rico. Final reports to the National Marine Fisheries Service and other
funding agencies.
Mattila, D.K. 1983. A Characterization of demographics and habitat use of humpback whales along the
Northwest Coast of Puerto Rico. Abstract in the Proceedings of the Fifth Biennial Conference on the Biology of
Marine Mammals. Boston, Massachusetts.
Mattila, D. K., L. N. Guinee and C. A. Mayo. 1987. Humpback whale songs on a North Atlantic feeding ground.
Journal of Mammalogy 68: 880-883.
Mattila, D. K., P. J. Clapham, S. K. Katona and G. S. Stone. 1989. Population composition of humpback whales,
Megaptera novaeangliae, on Silver Bank, 1984. Canadian Journal of Zoology 67: 281-285.
Mattila, D. K. and P. J. Clapham. 1989. Humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, and other cetaceans on
Virgin Bank and in the northern Leeward Islands, 1985 and 1986. Canadian Journal of Zoology 67: 2201-2211.
Mattila, D. K., P. J. Clapham, O. Vasquez, and R. S. Bowman. 1994. Occurrence, population composition and
habitat use of humpback whales in Samana Bay, Dominican Republic. Canadian Journal of Zoology 72: 18981907.
Mattila, D. K. and J. Robbins. 1997. An integrated program for the research of North Atlantic humpback whales.
Final report to the National Marine Fisheries Service. Contract #NA47FL0068. 27pp.
Mattila, D. K. and J. Robbins. 1998. Monitoring of entanglement scars on the caudal peduncle of humpback
whales in the Gulf of Maine. Report to the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Mattila, D. K., P. J. Palsbøll, M. Berubé, B. Bowman, C. Carlson, P.J. Clapham, A. Mignucci, J. Robbins, P.
Stevick, and O. Vasquez. 1998. Sexual composition of the North Atlantic population of humpback whales on their
principal mating and calving grounds: are some females missing? Abstract in the proceedings of the World Marine
Mammal Science Conference. Monaco.
Mattila, D. K., J. Robbins, P. J. Clapham and P. J. Palsbøll. 1999. Age, feeding ground origin and behavior of
West Indies humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae. Abstract in the proceedings of the 13th Biennial
Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals. Maui, Hawaii
Mattila, D., M. Bérubé, Robert Bowman, C. Carlson, P. Clapham, A. Mignucci_giannoni, P. Palsbøll, J. Robbins,
P. Stevick and O. Vasquez. 2001. Humpback whale habitat use on the West Indies breeding grounds.
Unpublished report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission. SC/53/NAH3. 11 pp.
PUBLICATIONS, REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS
(Continued)
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CURRICULUM VITAE
David K. Mattila
Mattila D.K. and E. Lyman. 2006. A note on the entanglement of large whales in marine debris. Unpublished
report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission: SC/58/BC2
Mattila D.K., S. Landry, E. Lyman, J. Robbins and T. Rowles. 2007. Scientific information that can be gained
through large whale disentanglement. Unpublished report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling
Commission. SC/59/BC1.
Mizroch, S.A., R. Hobbs, D. Mattila, L. S. Baraff and N. Higashi. 1996. A new survey protocol for capturerecapture studies in humpback whale winter grounds. Report to the International Whaling Commission, SC/48/O
18.
Palsbøll, P.J., P.J. Clapham, D.K. Mattila, F. Larsen, R. Sears, H.R. Siegismund, J. Sigurjonsson, O. Vasquez and
P. Arctander. 1995. Distribution of mtDNA haplotypes in North Atlantic humpback whales: the influence of
behaviour on population structure. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 116:1-10.
Palsbøll, P.J., P.J. Clapham, H. Jørgensen, F. Larsen, D.K. Mattila, R. Sears, J. Sigurjònsson, and O. Vasquez (in
press. The value of parallel analysis of uni- and bi-parental inherited loci: the North Atlantic humpback whale
(Megaptera novaeangliae). In Karp, A., P.G. Isaac, and D.S. (eds.) Molecular tools for screening biodiversity:
Plants and animals, Chapman and Hall.
Palsbøll, P.J., M. Bérubé, P.J. Clapham, D. Dendanto, D. Dietz, T.P. Feddersen, A.C. Heiberg, M. P. HeideJørgensen, H. Jørgensen, A. H. Larsen, F. Larsen, L. Lien, D.K. Mattila, G. Notarbartolo di Sciara, J.
Sigurjonsson, R. Sears, R. Sponer, N. Øien. 1998). Post-glacial origin and expansion of arctic and temperate
cetacean populations in the North Atlantic. Abstract in the proceedings of the World Marine Mammal Science
Conference. Monaco.
Palsbøll, P. J., J. Allen, M. Bérubé, P. J. Clapham T. P. Feddersen, P. Hammond, H. Jørgensen, S. Katona, A. H.
Larsen, F. Larsen, J. Lien, D. K. Mattila, J. Sigurjónsson, R. Sears, T. Smith, R. Sponer, P. Stevick and N. Øien.
1997. “Genetic tagging” of humpback whales. Nature.
Palsbøll, P. J., J. Allen, T. H. Andersen, M. Bérubé, P. J. Clapham, T. P. Feddersen, N. Friday, P. S. Hammond, H.
Jørgensen, S. Katona, A. H. Larsen, F. Larsen, J. Lien, D. K. Mattila, F. B. Nygaard, J. Robbins, R. Spooner, R.
Sears, J. Sigurjónsson, T. D. Smith, P. Stevick, G. Vikingsson and N. Øien. 2001. Stock structure and
composition of the North Atlantic humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae.
Robbins, J., D. K. Mattila, P. J. Palsbøll, and M. Bérubé. 1998. Asynchronous Diving Pairs of Humpback
Whales: Implications of a newly described behavior observed in the North Atlantic wintering grounds. Abstract in
the proceedings of the World Marine Mammal Science Conference. Monaco.
Robbins, J. and D. K. Mattila. 2000. The use of commercial whale watching platforms in the study of cetaceans:
benefits and limitations. Unpublished report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission.
SC/52/WW8. 7 pp.
Robbins, J. and D. Mattila. 2001. Monitoring entanglements of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in
the Gulf of Maine on the basis of caudal peduncle scarring. Unpublished report to the Scientific Committee of the
International Whaling Commission. SC/53/NAH25. 14 pp.
PUBLICATIONS, REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS
(Continued)
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CURRICULUM VITAE
David K. Mattila
Robbins, J., M. Bérubé, P. Clapham, P. Palsbøll, P. Stevick and D. Mattila. 2001. Group composition and social
dynamics of North Atlantic humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) on their West Indies breeding grounds.
Unpublished report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission. SC/53/NAH4. 12 pp.
Robbins, J., M. Bérubé, P. Clapham, N. Friday and D. Mattila. 2001. Structure and regional composition of the
Gulf of Maine humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) population. Unpublished report to the Scientific
Committee of the International Whaling Commission. SC/53/NAH12. 11 pp.
Robbins J., J. Kenney, S. Landry, E. Lyman and D. Mattila. 2007. Reliability of eyewitness reports of large whale
entanglement. Unpublished report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission.
SC/59/BC2
Robbins J., J. Barlow, A. M. Burdin, J. Calambokidis, P. J. Clapham, J. K. B.Ford, C. M. Gabriele, R. LeDuc, D.
Mattila, T. J. Quinn, L. Rojas-Bracho, J. M. Straley, J. Úrban, P. Wade, D. Weller, B. H. Witteveen, K. Wynne
and M. Yamaguchi. Preliminary minimum estimates of humpback whale entanglement frequency in the North
Pacific Ocean based on scar evidence. Unpublished report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling
Commission. SC/59/BC15
Smith, T.D., J. Allen, P.J. Clapham, P.S. Hammond, S. Katona, F. Larsen, J. Lien, D. Mattila, P. Palsbøll, J.
Sigurjónsson, P.T. Stevick, and N. Øien. 1999. An ocean-basin-wide mark-recapture study of the North Atlantic
humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). Marine Mammal Science 15: 1-32.
Stevick P., N. Oien and D. K. Mattila. Migration of a humpback whale between Norway and the West Indies.
1997. Marine Mammal Science 14(1): 162-166.
Stevick, P. T., N. Oien and D. K. Mattila. 1999. Migratory destinations of humpback whales from Norwegian and
adjacent waters: evidence for stock identity. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management 1(2):147-152.
Stevick, P., J. Allen, M. Bérubé, P. Clapham, S. Katona, F. Larsen, J. Lien, D. Mattila, P. Palsbøll, J. Robbins, J.
Sigurjónsson, T. Smith, N. Øien and P. Hammond. 2001. Migration timing is related to feeding ground origin in
North Atlantic humpback whales. Unpublished report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling
Commission. SC/53/NAH13. 10 pp.
Stevick, P. J., J. Allen, P. J. Clapham, N. Friday, S. K. Katona, F. Larsen, J. Lien, D. K, Mattila, P. J. Palsbøll, J.
Sigurjónsson, T. D. Smith, N. Øien and P. S. Hammond. 2001. Trends in abundance of North Atlantic humpback
whales, 1979-1993. Unpublished report to the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission.
SC/53/NAH2. 15 pp.
Stevick, P. J., J. Allen, P. J. Clapham, S. K. Katona, F. Larsen, J. Lien, D. K, Mattila, P. J. Palsbøll, R. Sears, J.
Sigurjónsson, T. D. Smith, G. Vikingsson and N. Øien. 2001. Population spatial structuring on the feeding
grounds in North Atlantic humpback whales. Unpublished report to the Scientific Committee of the International
Whaling Commission. SC/53/NAH8. 31 pp.
Valsecchi, E., P.J. Palsbøll, P. Hale, D. Glockner-Ferrari, M. Ferrari, P.J. Clapham, F. Larsen, D.K. Mattila, R.
Sears, J. Sigurjónsson, M. Brown, P. Corkeron and B. Amos. 1997. Microsatellite genetic distances between
oceanic populations of the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). Molecular Biology and Evolution 14(4):
355-362.
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