Bernard Einar Skud, former Director of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Laboratory in Boothbay Harbor, died at his home in Oak Harbor, Washington on April 16, 2014 at the age of 87.

Bernie was the son of Ferdinand and Elma (Hendrickson) Skud, born January 31, 1927 in Ironwood, Michigan. He received BS and MS degrees from the University of Michigan. In 1950, he married Patricia Duffin of Wakefield, Michigan..

Bernie worked as a marine biologist for 40 years, starting his career with the Fish and Wildlife Service in Seattle and Alaska. He first came to Boothbay Harbor in 1956 as a research biologist, was transferred to Galveston, Texas, to be Assistant Director of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries Laboratory there from1958 to 1960, but quickly returned to the Boothbay region in 1961 and in addition to serving as Laboratory Director for 10 years, worked on research on lobsters and herring. During that time he enjoyed participating in the Rotary Club and served on the Board of Directors of St. Andrews Hospital. In 1970, Bernie was appointed Director of the International Pacific Halibut Commission in Seattle. He was a Division Chief at the National Marine Fisheries Service in Washington, D.C. and then Scientific Advisor in Narragansett, Rhode Island from 1978 to 1985. He was appointed the Director of the International North Pacific Fisheries Commission in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1986 where he served until retirement in 1991.

Bernie was President of American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists from 1982 to 1984, a life member of American Fisheries Society, and published over 100 technical papers and popular articles on salmon, herring, lobsters, halibut and mackerel. He was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, an Adjunct Professor at the School of Fisheries of the University of Washington and at the University of Rhode Island, and traveled to 36 countries on business and pleasure. He retired to Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island in Washington, and remained active in fishery matters.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Patricia, of Oak Harbor; three sons, Timothy Skud of Alexandria, Va.., Ferd Skud of Anchorage, Alaska., Eric Skud and wife Ann of Redmond, Wash.; and sister, Elaine Allen and husband Robert of Palo Alto, CA. He was predeceased by his parents and sister, Joan Heinbaugh.