Open house: Pacific Biological Station

Welcome to the Pacific Biological Station

Welcome to the Pacific Biological Station here in Nanaimo, British Columbia. On the traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. We’re the oldest marine research centre on Canada’s West Coast, and home to world-class scientists, biologists, and technicians.

Established in 1908, the Pacific Biological Station, or PBS, is the primary centre for fisheries research on the West Coast. The facility consists of 22 on-site structures that include office buildings, wet and dry lab buildings, as well as workshops and storage facilities.

PBS houses a number of Aquatic facilities that enable a range of research on live fish and shellfish by having ambient temperatures and on-demand heated salt water and fresh water. Our diverse group of scientists include research experts in salmon, pacific herring, ground fish, and invertebrates like oysters, prawns, and crabs. Research is key to supporting the effective management of Pacific fisheries.

Building on decades of research, PBS continues to integrate new technologies to enhance our understanding and inform conservation and species-management decisions for the diverse selection of marine mammals studied at PBS.

The sclerochronology, or fish ageing lab analyzes the hard tissues of fish to determine age, growth, and population trends. With millions of archived samples acquired through rigorous research processes, this lab provides a robust groundwork for tracking fish origins, movements, and long-term environmental changes.

Research at PBS provides scientists the ability to inform stock assessment, marine conservation, coastal and deep-water habitat, and collaborate with Indigenous partners. This research directly contributes to our departmental mandate of sustainably managing fisheries and aquaculture, species protection and recovery, and ensuring Canada’s oceans and aquatic ecosystems are protected.