The first marine biological station in Canada: 100 years of scientific research at St. Andrews

The first marine biological station in Canada was established in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, in July 1899. The original station was a portable laboratory and was moved between various summer research sites in Atlantic Canada before a permanent station was established in St. Andrews in 1908. Early research included practical problems in the fisheries and descriptive work of coastal fauna and was performed by university researchers. Contributions to Canadian Biology, a journal founded to report the findings of the early station's researchers, in time evolved into the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. For the first 75 years, the station was managed as part of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada and its predecessors, and since 1979 by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (from 1972 to 1978, two other government departments held this responsibility). Research on fisheries, the environment, oceanography, and aquaculture has dominated the station's history. July 1999 marked the 100th anniversary of marine research in St. Andrews. We celebrate and remember with pride our accomplishments and look forward to the future of conserving Canada's aquatic environment and the livelihood of Atlantic Canadians.