In Memoriam

Donald James Noakes Many readers will know Don Noakes as the founding editor of Marine and Coastal Fisheries. Our fisheries science and management community lost Don on October 19, 2020 from complications associated with spinal cancer. He was only 65 years old and just retired in 2019. Don was proud to have graduated from the University of Waterloo as an engineer with expertise in applied time series modelling. He was equally proud to have been a student of Keith Hipel for both his master’s and doctoral degrees. Don arrived at the Pacific Biological Station immediately after receiving his PhD in 1985 and quickly became involved in a range of activities leading up to positions as head of aquaculture, head of Pacific salmon research, and then director from 1995 to 2003. Don left the Canadian federal government in 2003 to become dean of the School of Advanced Technologies and Mathematics as well as Associate Vice President of Research and Graduate Studies at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia. After 11 years, he and his wife Olga wanted to return to Nanaimo, British Columbia, and in October 2014, he accepted the position as the dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology at Vancouver University in Nanaimo. Don Noakes had a diversity of talents with a solid background in applied mathematics. He was always available to help his colleagues with their analytical issues. He was an expert on the management of Pacific fisheries in general and Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. and shellfish in particular, as identified by his publications. It was his analyses that helped convince colleagues, often for the first time, that climate changes and resulting impacts on ocean survival had become the major factors affecting Pacific salmon production. However, some of his most important contributions came from his research and advice to government and industry for the sustainable development of aquaculture on the Pacific coast of Canada. His skill in social science as well as a comprehensive analytical understanding of scientific issues made him a sought after communicator of science to the aquaculture industry and senior government officials. The aquaculture industry considered him a kind face at research meetings and workshops because of his thoughtfulness, his focus on evidence-based decision making, and his dry sense of humor. His last publication may be his most important. “Oceans of Opportunity: a Review of Canadian Aquaculture” was published in 2018 in Marine Economics and Management, volume 1, issue 1. In the paper, Don identifies the opportunities and challenges that are needed to use the ocean to produce seafood and provide employment, particularly in more remote locations along the West Coast. Some day there will be major coastal seafood farming industries stretching from Mexico to Canada to Alaska. It will be recognized that few scientists have contributed as much to the development of the marine aquaculture industry as Don Noakes. Don Noakes was a steady hand at the tiller with a wealth of insight and the odd pun. He was also a golfer, curler, photographer, gardener, barbecuer, candy maker, and his recent passion was the bagpipes. He was a proud member of the Kamloops Pipe Band, the Pacific Gael Pipe Band, and a supporter of all things Scottish. Most of all, Don Noakes was a true friend. Don will be remembered at a private family celebration and a larger gathering when pandemic restrictions are over. We send our condolences to his wife, Olga, his family, friends, and colleagues.

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