Ole Nielson

Ole Nielsen joined the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in 1976. From 1976 until 1995 he worked primarily on the identification and isolation of viral fish diseases. In 1995 he joined the marine mammals section in order to study and conduct research on viral and bacterial pathogens of marine mammals. Current research is directed at gaining a better understanding of the role of infectious diseases in controlling host population numbers as well as identifying threats of catastrophic die-offs to Canadian marine mammal populations. In addition, Mr. Nielsen co-ordinates the marine mammal disease/stranding investigation project for the Central and Arctic region. He collaborates with scientists in other government departments such as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, with university researchers both in Canada and internationally, and with disease specialists in Japan, Russia, New Zealand, the United States and the Netherlands.