By Craig Leroux, Senior Communications Officer

Freshwater fisheries research at Queen’s is getting a boost through a gift of $3.5 million over 10 years from Queen’s alumnus Robert Greenberg, BA’84. The philanthropic support will create The Greenberg Family Fund in Conservation of Freshwater Fisheries to advance research and training directed at the conservation of freshwater fisheries.

“Mr. Greenberg is an avid angler, passionate about conservation and recognizes the excellent research and outreach that Queen’s is doing,” says Tom Harris, Vice-Principal (Advancement). “This gift is a wonderful investment in our researchers and students and it will have a tremendous impact on their work.”

Professor Bruce Tufts

Bruce Tufts is a professor in the Department of Biology and Queen’s lead researcher in conservation of freshwater fisheries. He has been involved in research on fish biology and fisheries conservation issues fish for more than two decades and is a past director of the Queen’s University Biological Station (QUBS).

“Canada’s fisheries are one of its most valuable resources and there is a lot of important science that needs to be done to support their responsible stewardship,” says Dr. Tufts. “With its proximity to Lake Ontario, the Rideau waterway and St. Lawrence River, and with numerous lakes at QUBS, Queen’s is perfectly positioned to undertake this research.”

The gift will support research on fisheries conservation issues by providing funding for laboratory staff, field researchers and equipment.

“It’s almost a cliché, but this gift really will be transformative, advancing cutting edge research in fisheries biology and conservation,” says Dr. Tufts. “It will also allow us to provide additional support for the teaching and training of undergraduate and graduate students, the next generation of fisheries scientists who will look after Canada’s freshwater fisheries.”

Among the recent conservation initiatives stemming from Dr. Tufts’ research is a new method to improve the live release process and create proper fish handling techniques for fishing tournaments. The method was used at the Canadian Open of Fishing held in Kingston this past summer.

“We worked very closely with the competitive fishing industry in Canada and this method has been adopted as a best practice for competitive events to ensure they are ‘fish friendly’ and to minimize their impact on the fishery,” says Dr. Tufts.

The Initiative Campaign is the most ambitious fundraising campaign in the university’s history. The goal is to raise half a billion dollars to ensure Queen’s future as a destination for exceptional people. The campaign will nurture a supportive campus community, enhance the student learning experience, and secure a global reputation in discovery and inquiry.