Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre

The Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre is a research facility on Vancouver Island's west coast featuring laboratories, indoor sea tanks, and field stations. The site spreads across coastal environments to support marine organism and ocean condition studies.

The facility was established in 1972 on the grounds of a former Pacific Cable Board station that operated trans-Pacific telegraph cables from 1901 to 1959. This conversion of historic infrastructure into a research centre reflects changing coastal development patterns.

The research facility operates within Huu-ay-aht First Nations territory, incorporating local knowledge into marine ecosystem studies. Visitors can observe how indigenous partnerships shape the daily research activities and priorities.

The facility offers year-round housing and laboratory space for students from five Canadian universities. Access is arranged through university programs, as the remote location caters mainly to academic researchers and their work.

From 1969 to 1980, the site collected continuous temperature and salinity data for a regional oceanographic program. These long-term measurements now serve as a historical baseline for comparing modern ocean conditions.

Location: Bamfield

Inception: 1972

Address: 100 Pachena Road, Bamfield, B.C.

Website: https://bamfieldmsc.com

GPS coordinates: 48.83526,-125.13550

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:02