Tribute paid to aquaculture supporter Don Noakes
Salmon farmers in Canada have paid tribute to academic and aquaculture supporter Dr Don Noakes, whose death was announced by the BC Salmon Farmers’ Association on Friday.
Noakes was a former dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, at Vancouver Island University (VIU). Between 2015 and 2019, he served as chair of the BC Salmon Farmers’ Association Science Advisory Council (2015 – 2019), an advisory board on the Association’s Marine Environmental Research Programme.
“He was a kind face at research meetings and workshops, and was a strong supporter of science-based communications in aquaculture, and particularly salmon farming,” the BCSFA said in a statement on its website.
Oceans of opportunity
His final publication: Oceans of opportunity: a review of Canadian aquaculture, in Marine Economics and Management (Vol 1. Issue 1, 2018) highlighted the opportunities for aquaculture in Canada, while acknowledging the challenges the sector must overcome to realise this potential.
Between 1985 and 2003, Noakes held a number of important roles with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), finally serving as director of the Pacific Biological Station and head of aquaculture.
He returned to Nanaimo, Vancouver Island and joined VIU in 2014, following time spent at Thompson Rivers University, where he served as dean of the School of Advanced Technologies and Mathematics as well as acting associate vice president of research and graduate studies.
“In addition to his unassuming calm and rigorous approach to scientific interpretation, Don will be remembered for his sense of humour, thoughtfulness, and enthusiasm for life – particularly his love of curling, gardening and the bagpipes,” stated the BCSFA.
