Member of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: May 3, 2007
• Invested on: June 10, 2008

For more than 25 years, Jon Lien has been passionately committed to the conservation of our marine environment. As head of the Whale Research Group at Memorial University of Newfoundland, this scientist pioneered techniques to release whales trapped in fishing gear. He also developed acoustic alarms to warn whales away from these types of entanglements. He is highly respected as a bridge builder who has worked with ocean preservation groups and the fishing and tourism industries to study the management of fish stocks and to set standards for whale-watching tours. In addition, he helped to establish marine protected areas and served on many panels dedicated to conservation.