[2] It is named in honor of Archibald Gowanlock Huntsman, director of the St. Andrews Biological Station that adjoins the centre, who stimulated fishery research in the region.
[3] It was founded in 1969 by a consortium of universities in Eastern Canada, and several government departments, who pooled their resources in order to provide field research and teaching facilities that would complement their programs in marine biology and oceanography.
The Huntsman Marine Laboratory was established on 20 acres (8.1 ha) of land that was provided by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and included two residential buildings that were called the Ambridge Estate.
The government assisted with the purchase of the Sir Thomas Tait Estate which included another 50 acres, and the large Anderson House, which provides accommodation for visiting students.
[2] The HMSC laboratories are located on 74 acres (30 ha) of land at the estuary of the St. Croix River at the Bay of Fundy.