Pacific Biological Station

History of the Facility
Centennial Celebration 2008
Molecular Genetics Laboratory
PBS Library
PBS Seminar Series

About PBS

The Pacific Biological Station is the oldest fisheries research center on the Pacific coast and forms part of a network of nine major scientific facilities operated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Located in Nanaimo, British Columbia, the Station is home to scientists, technicians, support staff and ships' crews whose common interests are the coastal waters of British Columbia, the Northeast Pacific Ocean, the Western Arctic and navigable waters east to the Manitoba, Saskatchewan border.

PBS was established in 1908 and is the principal centre for fisheries research on the West Coast. There are some 22 structures on the site including a four-story office/wet lab building, specialty storage structures for hazardous chemicals and salt water pumping facilities. PBS maintains a number of workshops for research support. There is a 200-lineal-foot wharf used for loading, unloading, and berthage of research vessels, as well as a small boat dock for inshore research boats. PBS also maintains a library and meeting facilities. Aquatic facilities, primarily used by Aquaculture Science, include ambient temperature and heated salt water and fresh (municipal supply) water.

Research at PBS responds to stock assessment, aquaculture, marine environment, habitat, ocean science and fish productivity priorities. Some fisheries management activities are also conducted here.

Located at:
3190 Hammond Bay Road,
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
V9T 6N7
Phone: 250-756-7000
Fax: 250-756-7053

PBS is located on the northwest shore of Departure Bay in Nanaimo, across the bay from the Departure Bay terminal of BC Ferries. Nanaimo is approximately 110 km north of Victoria, and 50 km across the Strait of Georgia from Vancouver.