The Honourable Trevor Taylor, Acting Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, today congratulated Dr. Jon Lien, a retired Memorial University (MUN) scientist and longtime marine and environmental steward in this province and country, on his investiture into the Order of Canada.

"Dr. Jon Lien is a fisheries pioneer who was fully committed to the conservation of our marine environment," said Minister Taylor. "I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Lien as a participant in the fishing industry, and I was very impressed with his dedication, knowledge and professionalism. He has certainly left a mark on fisheries and oceans science and for that he is very deserving of this honour."

Throughout his career, Dr. Lien was a strong and successful advocate of conservation. He started and led the Whale Research Group at MUN and in this capacity pioneered and implemented techniques to release whales from fishing gear. He was a member of the Federal Minister�s Advisory Council on Oceans and helped to establish Marine Protected Areas. He served on numerous panels committed to promoting the conservation of our marine environment.

"Dr. Lien has a reputation of being very courageous and charismatic, as a researcher, a professor and as an individual generally," said Minister Taylor. "He is very much respected and admired by everyone and we are all extremely proud of his accomplishments and his contributions to Newfoundland and Labrador and to Canada."

The Order of Canada is the country�s highest civilian honour for lifetime achievement. It was established in 1967 to recognize outstanding achievement and service in various fields of human endeavour.

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