Georg Sars
Georg Ossian Sars (
April 20 1837 -
April 9 1927) was a
Norwegian marine biologist.
Like his father,
Michael, Georg Sars was a marine
taxonomist, and is credited with the discovery of a number of new species, particularly
mysids and
ostracods.
Michael Sars was commissioned by the Norwegian government to study the variability in catches of
cod in the
Norwegian Sea, but unfortunately died before this work could be completed, and Georg took over. Cod was the major Norwegian export in the mid 19th century, yet in some years catches were very poor, causing fishermen to
default on bank loans, and damaging the Norwegian
balance of trade. Consequently, Georg Sars is credited with making the first serious studies in
fisheries science.
Georg Sars is remembered in the
patronymy of a number of marine
invertebrates, as well as the flagship of the Norwegian
research fleet, the RV G.O.Sars. He was awarded the
Linnean Medal in
1910.
*
The RV G.O. Sars
