Hatfield Marine Science Center

The Hatfield Marine Science Center ( HMSC ) is a 1965 based Oceanographic Research Institute and Aquarium of the Oregon State University ( OSU). On the approximately 0.20 -acre grounds there are further branches of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA), the Department of Agriculture of the United States (U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA ), the United States Fish and Wildlife Service ( USFWS ) and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife ( OSFW ). Named the Hatfield Marine Science Center is named after the former Governor of Oregon and U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield. It is located on the southern shore of Yaquina Bay in Newport, Oregon on the west coast of the United States.

Institute

The Institute is interdisciplinary and is used for research and training in the marine environment. A total of 14 buildings with lecture halls, laboratories, a library and administrative facilities are part of the campus. Approximately 300 people are employed at the HMSC and the connected other agencies and institutions. Research is conducted and taught in the fields of marine biology and ecology, oceanography, botany, microbiology, zoology, geochemistry, genetics, fisheries science and aquaculture. Tanks and laboratories for seawater experiments are available to researchers. Furthermore, the Institute one of 12 Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station ( COMES ), affiliated. In this station research is carried out in the area of ​​food and agriculture industry. The NOAA plans by the year 2011 their Marine Operations Center - Pacific to relocate to the campus and then create another 50 to 100 additional jobs here.

Visitor center

The research center is affiliated with a visitor center, which was also opened in 1965. There are aquariums and exhibitions on oceanographic topics. In the aquarium, a giant Pacific octopus can be seen, in addition there is a tidal pool with flora and fauna of the Pacific coast. The exhibitions coincide with weather patterns, tsunamis, fishing, extraction of raw materials from the sea and from the sea floor, as well as communities in the water column. Furthermore, the visitor center a Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center is offering information on maritime issues together in conjunction with 21 other centers in the U.S. and Mexico. With more than 150,000 visitors (2003), the HMSC Visitor Center is an important tourist attraction in the region. Admission is free to make a voluntary donation to the maintenance and development of the exhibitions would be appreciated. At the visitor center, a small bookstore is connected, also benefit from the proceeds upkeep of the exhibitions.

Outside you can find information on the one kilometer long Yaquina Estuary Trail, a trail along the Yaquina Bay, about the environment and ways of life in estuary areas. In close proximity to the Oregon Coast Aquarium and on the opposite side of the bay, the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is also a visitor center.

Research vessels

The research vessels R / V Wecoma, R / V Elakha and R / V Pacific Storm are affiliated to the HMSC and have their home port in Newport. The mooring of vessels located at the pier in front of the Institute. With the relocation of the NOAA Pacific operations center research fleet is increased with home port Newport to four more ships.

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