It is with great sadness that we announce the untimely passing of
Stéphane Plourde, researcher at the Maurice Lamontagne Institute (Fisheries and Oceans
Canada, MLI-DFO), our colleague, mentor and friend. Quebec oceanography and
the scientific community in general have lost an exceptional zooplankton scientist,
respected for his integrity, as well as the originality and quality of his work. He earned
an international reputation, in particular for his work on the large
copepods of the genus Calanus, which play a key role in the food web of
the North Atlantic. Over the course of his career, he has been a key collaborator
with Quebec-Ocean on several collaborative projects between universities and the
government on biodiversity, copepods and krill. In addition to his
obligations within DFO, he has always taken to heart the training of the new
generation of oceanographers, and has made an important and unique contribution in this area.
For several years, he was a member of ISMER's
graduate oceanography program committee. His research program covered a
wide range of topics, from ecosystem research based on the monitoring of
Atlantic zooplankton, to pelagic fish stock assessments,
the ecosystem approach to fisheries management and the major
cetacean initiative in Canada, and much more. All these qualities led him to head the
Pelagic and Ecosystem Science Branch at MLI. He is known as a
committed, passionate and generous researcher. We will always remember his
enriching and lively discussions. He will be sorely missed.
Our most sincere condolences go out to Stéphane's family, his wife and
his children, loved ones, friends and colleagues.
Photo source: Radio-Canada
