Honouring a Legacy of Fisheries Science
The Myers Hutchings Fisheries Centre carries the names of Dr. Ransom Myers & Dr. Jeff Hutchings,
two exceptional scientists whose research, mentorship, & commitment to evidence-based fisheries management helped shape the field of fisheries science at Dalhousie University & around the world.
Honouring
Ram Myers
The Myers Hutchings Fisheries Centre honours the legacy of Dr. Ransom A. Myers, a world-renowned marine biologist, conservationist, & Dalhousie University researcher whose work transformed our understanding of fisheries & marine ecosystems.
Known to colleagues and students as “Ram,” he was a pioneering scientist who used data and quantitative approaches to reveal the global impacts of overfishing and the decline of marine populations. His research on the impacts of fisheries on stock dynamics, especially for Atlantic cod, sharks, and tunas, helped bring international attention to the consequences of overfishing and the importance of evidence-based conservation.
Ram was also a passionate mentor who encouraged students and colleagues to think boldly, challenge conventional wisdom, and to make their science accessible and meaningful to the public. He believed that scientific knowledge should not remain within academia, it should inform policy, management, and action.
The Centre carries the Myers name in recognition of his scientific leadership, commitment to conservation, mentorship, and determination to connect research with real-world solutions. Together with Jeff Hutchings’ legacy, his name reflects the Centre’s commitment to rigorous science, collaboration, and developing better approaches to the complex challenges facing fisheries and oceans.
Honouring
Jeff Hutchings
The Myers Hutchings Fisheries Centre is named in memory of Dr. Jeffrey Hutchings, one of Canada’s most respected fisheries scientists & a longtime member of Dalhousie University’s Department of Biology.
Jeff dedicated his career to advocating for rigorous, evidence-based science by aligning research, policy, and practice to ensure fisheries scientists are addressing the challenges facing Canadian fisheries and beyond. Through his work on Atlantic cod, salmon, and life-history theory, he combined his intellectual curiosity and his commitment to conservation to promote the need for responsible fisheries management. His research, advocacy, and mentorship of generations of students have left a lasting mark on fisheries science in Canada and around the world.
The MHFC carries Jeff’s name in recognition of this legacy and his belief that evidence based science, collaboration, and the open exchange of knowledge can help create better decisions for fisheries and marine ecosystems. In carrying his name forward, the Myers Hutchings Fisheries Centre seeks to continue the kind of interdisciplinary, solutions-oriented work that defined Jeff’s career.
