Edward Lyman

Ed is the Marine Mammal Response Manager for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. He has assisted in marine mammals research and rescue since 1994. He has worked for the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, a non-profit whale research and rescue organization located on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, as a member of their large whale disentanglement team, and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries working with fishermen to come up with “whale-safe” gear and fishing practices to reduce entanglements.  Ed completed his masters degree from the University of New Hampshire on island biogeographical theory of semi-aquatic mammals - muskrats. Ed has helped free over 60 large whales from entanglements and is currently assisting David Mattila, the Hawaiian Islands Sanctuary’s Science and Rescue Coordinator; establish a Disentanglement Network around the Hawaiian Islands .  The last several summers, he has assisted NOAA Fisheries - Protected Resources Division and others in Alaska expand their efforts addressing entangled whales in Alaska’s waters.

Todd recently became an Associate Professor of Wildlife Toxicology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (2004) and was a Research Biologist for the Department of Wildlife Management, North Slope Borough and 9.0-year resident of Barrow, Alaska. He lives with his wife Carla; and son Lars and daughter Anne. Dr. O’Hara came to Alaska for the “opportunity of a lifetime”  to work and live “in the field” with amazing people and wildlife. Dr. O’Hara’s academic training includes a D.V.M. [University of  Wisconsin -  Madison ,  School of  Veterinary Medicine (1988 - 1992)], a Ph.D. in Pharmacology/ Toxicology [Medical College of Virginia (1985-1988)], and a B.S. and M.S. in Biology [ Villanova University (1979-1985)]. Dr. O’Hara is a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology (ABVT) since 1995. His major interests are environmental/ wildlife toxicology, and wildlife conservation and medicine. Current research activities include assessments of arctic fox, polar bears, ice seals and other mammals for nutritional value and exposure to contaminants for human consumers and health assessments of free ranging wildlife. As models for humans and wildlife (apex predators) we study free ranging polar bear and arctic fox health with respect to contaminants and nutrients (e.g., all consume seals).

Don is a folksinger, songwriter and part-time sea chanteyman at historic Mystic Seaport Museum. He is also an award-winning marine mammal illustrator with a number of prestigious exhibitions and books to his credit. For over twenty years, he has combined his exhaustive knowledge of cetaceans with his boundless energy, to deliver rousing renditions of songs from the days of wooden ships and iron men, alongside his own compositions dedicated to saving whales and the degraded marine environment. With a booming voice and a hearty laugh, he shares his music, his art, and his unrestrained love for the whale with audiences of all ages.

Manami Yamaguchi is currently director at Ogasawara Marine Center, Chici-Jimi Island, Ogasawara Islands, Japan. These islands are home to mating and calving humpback whales during the winter and green sea turtles during the summer.  Her research focus has been to determine the status of humpbacks around the island and their connection to other humpback whale populations in the North Pacific.  She is interested in finding the northern feeding area for these whales and how they are used in myths, legends and the spirituality of South Pacific islanders and to the people of Alaska. She has worked as a translator for numerous Japanese documentary film crews working in Alaskan waters.

Manami graduated from Hawaii Loa College in 1988 and began working with humpback whales in 1989.  She moved Ogasawara to work for Ogasawara Marine Center in 1990.  While living in these remote Japanese islands she started a marine wildlife educational program for children, makes leis and instruments, and she teaches hula dancing to 150 community members that range in age from two to fifty years old!