Georg Sars

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.