Alfred Needler
Encyclopedia
Alfred Walker Holinshead Needler, CM
, OBE
, FRSC
(1906 in Huntsville
– 4 September 1998 in St. Andrews
) was a Canadian
scientist, administrator, diplomat
and statesman
. Alfred Needler was instrumental in establishing research for estimating large migratory
marine fish populations from small samples, as well as making contributions toward Canada's participation in the International Commission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (ICNAF) and later chairing the new international convention that established the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization
(NAFO).
beginning in 1922 where he was influenced by the pioneer Canadian oceanographer and fishery biologist Professor A.G. Huntsman who encouraged Needler to pursue a career in fishery research. Needler completed undergraduate and graduate studies during the 1920s; his doctorate research was based at the Atlantic Biological Station in St. Andrews
, New Brunswick
during the summers, although much of his work took him to fishing ports of Nova Scotia
where he boarded with fishing families and understood the economic and social impact of marine resources.
Upon graduation, Dr. Needler entered public service, joining the federal Department of Marine and Fisheries and was appointed to head the oyster farming research centre at Ellerslie, Prince Edward Island
. In 1941, Dr. Needler succeeded his mentor Dr. Huntsman as the director of the Atlantic Biological Station in St. Andrews.
In 1943, Dr. Needler was a Canadian delegate to the London Conference on the post-war international regulation of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries. In 1949, Dr. Needler was a Canadian delegate to the Washington Conference which resulted in the creation of the ICNAF.
From 1948-1950, Dr. Needler served as Assistant Deputy Minister of Fisheries and also served as the first chairman of the ICNAF's Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (STACRES).
In 1954, Dr. Needler was appointed director of the Pacific Biological Station
in Nanaimo
. During his time on the west coast, Dr. Needler served as a Canadian delegate to the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission (INPFC) in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
In 1963, Dr. Needler was appointed to the most senior civil service appointment in the Department of Fisheries, becoming Deputy Minister of Fisheries. As Deputy Minister (and in retirement), Dr. Needler served as the Canadian Commissioner to ICNAF from 1966–1977, and as the Vice-Chairman and then Chairman of the ICNAF from 1967–1969 and 1969–1971 respectively.
Dr. Needler retired from the civil service in 1971 to return to St. Andrews.
Dr. Needler served as a Senior Fisheries Advisor to the Canadian Delegation at the third Conference on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS-III) which resulted in coastal states extending fisheries jurisdiction to the 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) Exclusive Economic Zone
.
Dr. Needler was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire
, a Member of the Order of Canada
, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
.
In 1982, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans
named a fisheries research vessel after him which continues to serve the Government of Canada to this day as the CCGS Alfred Needler
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, FRSC
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
(1906 in Huntsville
Huntsville, Ontario
Huntsville is a town in the Muskoka Region of Ontario, Canada. It is located north of Toronto and south of North Bay....
– 4 September 1998 in St. Andrews
St. Andrews, New Brunswick
St. Andrews is a Canadian town in Charlotte County, New Brunswick.It is sometimes referred to in tourism marketing by its unofficial nickname "St. Andrews-by-the-sea".-Geography:St...
) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
scientist, administrator, diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
. Alfred Needler was instrumental in establishing research for estimating large migratory
Fish migration
Many types of fish migrate on a regular basis, on time scales ranging from daily to annually or longer, and over distances ranging from a few metres to thousands of kilometres...
marine fish populations from small samples, as well as making contributions toward Canada's participation in the International Commission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (ICNAF) and later chairing the new international convention that established the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization
The is an intergovernmental organization with a mandate to provide scientific advice and management of fisheries in the northwestern part of the Atlantic Ocean...
(NAFO).
Education and career
Alfred Needler attended the University of TorontoUniversity of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
beginning in 1922 where he was influenced by the pioneer Canadian oceanographer and fishery biologist Professor A.G. Huntsman who encouraged Needler to pursue a career in fishery research. Needler completed undergraduate and graduate studies during the 1920s; his doctorate research was based at the Atlantic Biological Station in St. Andrews
St. Andrews, New Brunswick
St. Andrews is a Canadian town in Charlotte County, New Brunswick.It is sometimes referred to in tourism marketing by its unofficial nickname "St. Andrews-by-the-sea".-Geography:St...
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
during the summers, although much of his work took him to fishing ports of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
where he boarded with fishing families and understood the economic and social impact of marine resources.
Upon graduation, Dr. Needler entered public service, joining the federal Department of Marine and Fisheries and was appointed to head the oyster farming research centre at Ellerslie, Prince Edward Island
Ellerslie, Prince Edward Island
Ellerslie is a small village located in Prince Edward Island, Canada, on Prince County on Lot 12. The village includes the community of Bideford. It holds residence to approximately 470 citizens....
. In 1941, Dr. Needler succeeded his mentor Dr. Huntsman as the director of the Atlantic Biological Station in St. Andrews.
In 1943, Dr. Needler was a Canadian delegate to the London Conference on the post-war international regulation of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries. In 1949, Dr. Needler was a Canadian delegate to the Washington Conference which resulted in the creation of the ICNAF.
From 1948-1950, Dr. Needler served as Assistant Deputy Minister of Fisheries and also served as the first chairman of the ICNAF's Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (STACRES).
In 1954, Dr. Needler was appointed director of the Pacific Biological Station
Pacific Biological Station
The Pacific Biological Station is located on Hammond Bay Road in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. Established in 1908, it is the oldest fisheries research center on the Pacific coast. Operated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the station forms a network with eight other scientific...
in Nanaimo
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo is a city on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It has been dubbed the "Bathtub Racing Capital of the World" and "Harbour City". Nanaimo is also sometimes referred to as the "Hub City" because of its central location on Vancouver Island and due to the layout of the downtown...
. During his time on the west coast, Dr. Needler served as a Canadian delegate to the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission (INPFC) in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
In 1963, Dr. Needler was appointed to the most senior civil service appointment in the Department of Fisheries, becoming Deputy Minister of Fisheries. As Deputy Minister (and in retirement), Dr. Needler served as the Canadian Commissioner to ICNAF from 1966–1977, and as the Vice-Chairman and then Chairman of the ICNAF from 1967–1969 and 1969–1971 respectively.
Dr. Needler retired from the civil service in 1971 to return to St. Andrews.
Retirement
In his retirement, Dr. Needler served as the first executive director from 1971-1976 of the Huntsman Marine Laboratory, a joint-venture educational research facility in St. Andrews centred on the Atlantic Biological Station and funded by universitites and governments.Dr. Needler served as a Senior Fisheries Advisor to the Canadian Delegation at the third Conference on the Law of the Sea
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea , also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty, is the international agreement that resulted from the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea , which took place from 1973 through 1982...
(UNCLOS-III) which resulted in coastal states extending fisheries jurisdiction to the 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) Exclusive Economic Zone
Exclusive Economic Zone
Under the law of the sea, an exclusive economic zone is a seazone over which a state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources, including production of energy from water and wind. It stretches from the seaward edge of the state's territorial sea out to 200 nautical...
.
Dr. Needler was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
.
In 1982, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, frequently referred to as DFO , is the department within the government of Canada that is responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs in support of Canada's economic, ecological and scientific interests in oceans and inland waters...
named a fisheries research vessel after him which continues to serve the Government of Canada to this day as the CCGS Alfred Needler
CCGS Alfred Needler
CCGS Alfred Needler is an offshore fishery science vessel operated by the Canadian Coast Guard.CCGS Alfred Needler was constructed in 1982 at Ferguson Industries Limited, Pictou and commissioned into the Department of Fisheries and Oceans as CSS Alfred Needler. She was named after eminent Canadian...
.