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Large crowds are expected for an open house at Nanaimo's Pacific Biological Station, located off Stephenson Point Rd. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)
You're invited

Nanaimo fisheries research facility hosting open house

May 29, 2026 | 2:04 PM

NANAIMO — It’s a chance to get up close and personal at a historic Nanaimo-based fisheries research facility.

Opened in 1908, representing Canada’s oldest west coast marine research centre, a day-long public open house takes place at the Pacific Biological Centre (PBS) on Saturday, May 30, between 9 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Andy Thomson, Fisheries and Oceans Canada regional director of science, told NanaimoNewsNOW interactive touch tanks, as well as remotely operated vehicle demonstrations, are among the items being showcased.

“Our visitors will be able to see some of the labs that people work in, portions of our dock and wharf will be open, and people can come down and talk to researchers and see some of our research vessels at the docks as well,” Thomson told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Event poster for the Pacific Biological Station open house on Saturday, May 30 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Event poster for the Pacific Biological Station open house on Saturday, May 30 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. (Image Credit: Fisheries and Oceans Canada)

A complete itinerary for the free event is linked here.

Primarily outdoor-based, the open house also includes indoor displays.

Since on-site parking is limited, a complimentary shuttle bus service will leave Country Club Centre’s parking lot near Dairy Queen every 20 minutes starting at 9 a.m.

Thomson strongly recommends public house attendees take advantage of the shuttle service, carpool or take public transit.

With about 240 staff members, including researchers, biologists and technicians, Thomson said PBS areas of study include salmon and groundfish stock assessments, climate change impacts, aquaculture and marine mammal research.

Thomson stated fifteen-minute-long “quick hits” from researchers are scheduled in the seminar room throughout the day on various marine research topics.

“We have a lot of staff who have devoted their lives to this pursuit. They love what they do, and they love explaining the work to people that have an interest in it,” Thomson said.

He noted on-site food trucks and water bottle fill stations will be available.

Thomson said advancing cutting-edge genetics and genomics tools provides more understanding of the DNA makeup of fish and how they react to changing environments around them.

He said their researchers will focus on making their often complex work easy to absorb.

“We operate the world’s foremost fisheries genetics program. It’s really a world-class institution, we’re very happy to let people come in and visit us.”

Saturday’s open house follows visits on Thursday and Friday from several area schools.

The Fisheries and Oceans Canada Pacific Biological Station has been a hub of marine research since 1908
The Fisheries and Oceans Canada Pacific Biological Station has been a hub of marine research since 1908 (Image Credit: Fisheries and Oceans Canada)

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