Syam Nath

@sites.google.com

Principal scientist at Nath Marine & Bioacoustics Consulting
Nath Marine & Bioacoustics Consulting

Syam Nath


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https://researchid.co/syamnath
I'm a marine mammal bioacoustician and conservation researcher based in Trinidad & Tobago, specialising in passive acoustic monitoring, cetacean ecology, and acoustic data analysis. My path into bioacoustics began in behaviour and linguistics. A BA in Linguistics & Psychology at USC and an MA in Cognitive Science at the University of Barcelona gave me a strong foundation in acoustic phonetics and the science of sound and communication. That foundation led naturally to animal acoustics, culminating in an MSc in International Bioacoustics at Jean Monnet University in France, where I analysed geographical variation in bottlenose dolphin whistle characteristics across Galician and Sardinian populations.

After completing research internships in Spain and Madagascar — studying bottlenose dolphin whistle variation at the Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute and humpback whale mother-calf behaviour with Cétamada NGO — I returned to Trinidad and co-founded the Trinidad & Tobago Cetacean Sigh

EDUCATION

[2021 - 2022]
Université Jean Monnet, Saint-Étienne, France
Master of Science in International Bioacoustics

[2012 - 2013]
Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
Master of Cognitive Science and Language

[2004 - 2008]
University of Southern California, USA
Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Psychology

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Language and Linguistics, Acoustics and Ultrasonics

FUTURE PROJECTS

Trinidad Manatee Listening Project

The Greater Caribbean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) has declined across the Caribbean and is largely extirpated from much of its range. In Trinidad and Tobago, it persists mainly in Nariva Swamp, with about 30–40 individuals remaining. Despite Ramsar designation, no management plan exists, while habitat loss, pollution, fisheries interactions, and fragmentation continue to threaten survival. The Trinidad Manatee Listening Project will establish the first passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) for manatees, integrating hydrophones, environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling, drone surveys, and AI-assisted bioacoustic analysis based on methods from Mexico and Belize. Led by Syam Nath with the Trinidad and Tobago Cetacean Sighting Network (TTCSN), it will build monitoring capacity in Nariva, assess habitat use, train students and volunteers, expand a 120+ network, and deliver outreach in schools and communities with an open-access dataset for conservation planning.


Applications Invited
Administrative support, co-financing, equipment

Trinidad & Tobago Cetacean Species Research Project


Applications Invited
Administrative support

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Geographical Variation of Bottlenose Dolphin Whistle Characteristics in Galician and Sardinian Waters
    S Nath, S Methion, O Mosca, BD López

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Geographical Variation of Bottlenose Dolphin Whistle Characteristics in Galician and Sardinian Waters
    S Nath, S Methion, O Mosca, BD López

GRANT DETAILS

Recipient of IdeaWild Foundation Grant

CONSULTANCY

Sub-Consultant, Bioacoustics , Coastal Dynamics Ltd / IMO GloNoise, April 2026
Bioacoustics and sound modelling expertise for an Environmental Risk & Impact Assessment project tender on Underwater Radiated Noise from shipping in T&T.

Industry, Institute, or Organisation Collaboration

National Project Coordinator, IUCN Marine Mammal Protected Areas Taskforce, Oct 2025–Present
Leading the T&T component of the Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMA) project for the Southern Caribbean Upwelling System.
Stakeholder engagement, design, and delivery of interviews and training workshops to clos knowledge gaps in marine mammal biodiversity and occupancy relevant to the Southern Caribbean Upwelling System IMMA.
Scientific Advisor, Marine Mammal Science & Bioacoustics, TTCSN, Mar 2025–Present
Guiding the T&T Cetacean Species Research Project.
Managing citizen science records and stakeholder engagement.
Co-Founder, Chairman & Research Director, TTCSN, Mar 2023–Mar 2025
Founded and led T&T's first cetacean monitoring NGO for acoustic and visual monitoring, boat-based surveys, citizen science, outreach, and assessment of anthropogenic noise impacts from offshore oil, gas, and shipping.
Marine Mammal Observer & Bioacoustics Specialist, Caribbean Cetacean Society, May 2023
15 days of fieldwork across 10 island ports studying cetaceans and seabirds aboard a 42-ft catamaran.
Scientific Intern Cétamada NGO, Aug–Oct 2022
Field and lab research on humpback whale vocalisations under Dr. Anjara Saloma and PhD candidate Maevatiana Ratsimbazafindranahaka. Scientific lead: Prof. Olivier Adam (Sorbonne Université)
Research Intern in Marine Biology, Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute (BDRI), Jan–Jul 2022
Bioacoustics and behavioural analyses, PAM operations, and GIS-based fieldwork

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

Protected Species Observer & PAM Operator, A.I.S. Observers Inc, Oct–Nov 2025
Real-time passive acoustic monitoring and marine mammal observation for geophysical survey aboard M/V Holiday (Edison Chouest Offshore). Client: BP Trinidad and Tobago.

Marine Mammal Observer & PAM Technician, Geohidra Group, Nov–Dec 2024, Apr 2025
Marine wildlife monitoring in the Dragon Gas Field in Venezuelan and Trinidadian waters aboard the Doña Jose II. Client: Shell.
Set up hardware and software, troubleshot critical failures, and ensured seamless PAM operations.

STARTUP

Co-Founder of Trinidad & Tobago Cetacean Sighting Network (TTCSN) NPO,
Nath Marine & Bioacoustics Consulting (Registered Sole Trader)