About the Hatfield Marine Science Center

COMES – Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station

COMES focuses on marine resource sustainability, collaborating with seafood industries/commodity commissions and government agencies since 1989.

Molluscan Broodstock Program

The Molluscan Broodstock Program aims to improve the performance of Pacific oysters using genetic selection, and has been producing and selecting Pacific oysters since 1996. At HMSC, cohorts of Pacific oyster families are produced in a pilot-scale hatchery. MBP has achieved an average increase in yield of 35% (whole live weight) compared with yields of families from unselected broodstock. The West coast oyster industry has made extensive use of MBP broodstock. Future characteristics to be selected include resistance to the highly pathogenic micro-var strains of the oyster herpes virus (OsHv-1 µvar).

For more information, visit: https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/comes/aquaculture/molluscan-broodstock-program

Marine Fisheries Genetics

Housed within the Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station, Dr. Kathleen O'Malley's work as the State Fisheries Geneticist is a jointly-funded position between the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Oregon State University. The lab focuses on research that will be of use both to the scientific and management communities, and concentrates on species of ecological, evolutionary, and economic importance. For more information, visit:

(https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/state-fisheries-genetics-lab)

Fisheries Oceanography

Keeping track of, counting, and assessing benefits and threats to our marine fisheries is an extremely complex process. Dr. Will White's Fisheries Oceanography and Population Dynamics Lab uses mathematical modeling and statistics to detect and understand patterns of change in marine populations, and predict how they will respond to new environmental conditions or harvesting patterns. This type of research can inform fishery management strategies and influence the design and assessment of marine protected areas. For more information, visit: https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/comes/research/fisheries-oceanography

Marine Fisheries Genetics Lab

Research in Dr.  Michael Banks' Marine Fisheries Genetics Lab centers on the application of population genetic and genomic principles towards a better understanding of processes important to the management, utilization and conservation of marine fisheries.  The Banks lab also applies genomic tools to learn how fish (or other creatures important to the fishery food chain) orient in space and time, as well as relative to olfactory stimuli, and how these findings relate to their interaction for mating, migration, response to environmental variability, etc. For more information, visit: https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/comes/research/marine-fisheries-genetics

Marine and Anadromous Fisheries Ecology

The Marine & Anadromous Fisheries Ecology lab studies how animals move throughout rivers and oceans (their transport, dispersal, and migration) and how that movement affects their growth and survival. Headed by Dr. Jessica Miller, researchers in the lab focus primarily on economically and ecologically important species, mostly those found along the west coast of the United States. For more information, visit: https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/comes/research/marine-fisheries-ecology

CIRMS – Cooperative Institute for Marine Resources Studies

CIRMS is a cooperative institute between OSU and NOAA focused on researching both living and non-living marine resources.

Marine Bioacoustics

The Marine Bioacoustics Lab, headed by Dr. David K. Mellinger, is a team made up of engineers and scientists alike focused on using passive acoustic techniques to study marine and terrestrial ecosystems. More information can be found at their website: http://bioacoustics.us/index.html

MMI: The Marine Mammal Institute

The Marine Mammal Institute, housed within OSU’s College of Agricultural Sciences, aims to advance conservation and understanding of marine mammal ecology, which incorporates food webs, habitat, health and environmental issues.

Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab

The GEMM Lab, headed by Dr. Leigh Torres, focuses on the health, conservation, ecology and health of marine megafauna such as cetaceans, pinnipeds, seabirds and sharks. The Lab works to reduce human activities that are harmful to these organisms, collecting data from all over the world and communicating findings to the public (?). For more information, visit: https://mmi.oregonstate.edu/gemm-lab

Whale Telemetry Group

The Whale Telemetry Group works to develop and use satellite-monitored radio tags to study whales and dolphins across the globe. The research lab focuses on endangered whale species and their migration routes, distribution, habitats, movements and reactions to human disturbances. Since 1986, the WTG has tagged 462 whales from 11 different species, leading to groundbreaking discoveries of previously unknown whale habits and migration routes. For more information, visit: https://mmi.oregonstate.edu/wtg

Cetacean Conservation and Genomics Lab

The Cetacean Conservation and Genomics Lab conducts research on the genetic makeup, molecular ecology and conservation of cetaceans from around the world. Led by Dr. Scott Baker, the CCGL studies the effects of human exploitations of whales, dolphins and porpoises, focusing on the past, the present and the future. More information can be found at: https://mmi.oregonstate.edu/ccgl

The Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network: The OMMSN focuses on promoting the scientific investigation of marine mammal strandings, providing for the welfare of live stranded animals and advancing public education about marine mammal strandings. Overseen by Coordinator Jim Rice, the OMMSN relies on a network of dedicated volunteers from universities, state and federal agencies, and the general public. For more information, visit: https://mmi.oregonstate.edu/ommsn.

NOAA: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is a U.S. government agency which studies conditions of the oceans, the atmosphere and major waterways.

AFSC: Alaska Fisheries Science Center

HMSC hosts NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s Fisheries Behavioral Ecology Program, which aims to provide the information needed to conserve populations of and their habitats, as well as improve survey techniques. Led by Dr. Clifford Ryer, the Program researches the effects of fish behavior and environmental variables on the distribution, survival, and recruitment of species. For more information, visit:  https://www.afsc.noaa.gov/race/behavioral/default.php

NWFSC: The Northwest Fisheries Science Center

The Northwest Fisheries Science Center researches the ecology of marine and anadromous fish species living in the Pacific Northwest, working to protect their habitats and resources and sustain their ecosystems. The Newport Research Station at HMSC is NCFSC’s only ocean-port facility, and researchers at the Station focus on species such as groundfish and salmon. For more information, visit: https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/index.cfm

 

PMEL: Not available because of the shutdown but it seems like Bob Dziak is the only person who works here

 

Stranding Network: ?

 

MOC-P: Not available because of the shutdown

 

EPA: The Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the U.S. government focused on improving environmental conditions and regulations throughout the nation.

This info is really hard to find on the HMSC site or the EPA site. I can find out what EPA as a whole does, but not what anybody who works for EPA at Hatfield does.  For more information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/

 

USFWS: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is an agency of the U.S. government which focuses on the maintenance and management of fish, wildlife and their natural habitats.

(add photo) Researchers with USFWS working from HMSC focus on protecting and recovering endangered species and restoring ecosystems. For more information, visit: https://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/promo.cfm?id=177175715

 

ODWFW: The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is an agency of the state of Oregon responsible for the protection of Oregon’s fish, wildlife and their species.

Marine Resource Program: The Marine Resources Program, based at HMSC, is responsible for the management of fish and wildlife in bays, estuaries and oceans (all of which are easily accessible from HMSC campus). The MRP works with state, federal, regional and international organizations to make decisions regarding Oregon’s marine resources, and focuses on three main categories: marine resource management, fisheries monitoring and sampling, and research and assessment of species and habitats. For more information, visit: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/index.asp.

 

Marine Reserves: Photo: “Under ODFW in Research” The Marine Reserves are marine areas established by ODFW to be used for scientific research and conservation purposes. Three of the Reserves (Cascade Head, Otter Rock and Cape Perpetua) lie within 50 miles of HMSC. For more information, visit: http://oregonmarinereserves.com/.

 

Shellfish: Photo: “Shellfish under Research” Researchers in ODFW’s Recreational and Commerical Shellfish field of the Marine Resources Program focus on conservation of shellfish species such as bay clams, Dungeness crab, razor clams and urchins. Findings contribute to shellfish license requirements and regulations issued by the state, as well as information about biotoxins contained in the organisms. For more information, visit:  https://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/shellfish/index.asp

 

USDA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture is a federal executive department focused on farming, forestry and food. The Department also houses the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), which works to build scientific knowledge surrounding food and natural resources.

 

USDA/ARS Shellfish Aquaculture worksite: Photo: “USDA ARS Aquaculture” HMSC is home to the USDA/ARS Shellfish Aquaculture worksite, which researches shellfish genetics and ecology in the Pacific Northwest. Overall, researchers at the worksite hope to improve the economics and sustainability of oyster production in the region. For more information, visit: https://www.ars.usda.gov/pacific-west-area/corvallis-or/forage-seed-and-cereal-research/docs/newport-or-worksite/main/

 

OSU: OSU organizations and faculty lead several research labs within HMSC, studying a variety of subjects and including OSU graduate students in research opportunities.

Sea Grant Extension: Photo: “Sea Grant Extension (under Research)” Oregon Sea Grant’s Extension program aims to bring members of coastal communities together to solve problems that face the coastal regions. Extension specialists serve traditional stakeholders, including commercial fishers, seafood processors and recreational boaters, but also take leadership on emerging issues, from marine invasive species to helping coastal people and communities prepare for earthquakes, tsunamis and sea-level rise. For more information, visit: https://seagrant.oregonstate.edu/outreach-engagement/sea-grant-extension

 

Ocean Ecology and Biogeochemistry: Photo: “Ocean Ecology and Biogeochemistry (under Research)” Housed within OSU’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, the discipline of Ocean Ecology and Biogeochemistry focuses on the ocean’s biological, chemical and geological processes. Researchers study the structure and function of ocean ecosystems across space and time, reconstructing the past and sampling current regions. For more information, visit: http://ceoas.oregonstate.edu/research/oeb/.

 

Sea Bird Oceanography Lab: (add photo) The Seabird Oceanography Lab (SOL) at Oregon State University is involved in research focusing on seabird ecology, movement ecology, oceanography, and integrated ecosystem studies while providing research and educational opportunities for students. Conservation aspects of the Lab’s research include species restoration, population assessment and monitoring, seabird-fishery interactions, identification of marine important bird areas, and marine spatial planning. (no non-Hatfield webpage)

 

Benthic Ecology Lab: (add photo) Led by Dr. Sarah Henkel, the Benthic Ecology Lab aims to explain the effects of climate change and human activities on marine species. Researchers study the ecological effects of wave energy development on benthic communities, along with other human impacts on the molecular, individual, and population level of benthic organisms. For more information, visit: http://people.oregonstate.edu/~henkels/HenkelSK/Henkel.html

 

Biological Invasions Program: “Photo: Biological Invasions Program (under Research)” OSU’s Bioinvasion Lab works to control invasive species that could potentially disrupt and threaten current ecosystems. Led by Dr. John Chapman, the Lab studies local species in Yaquina Bay, noting the rise and fall of their populations, and looks out for species foreign to the region. (No non-HMSC webpage).

 

Plankton Ecology Laboratory: Photo: “Plankton Ecology Lab” OSU’s Plankton Ecology Laboratory, under the direction of Dr. Su Sponaugle and Dr. Robert Cowen, researches the ecology of marine fish and the processes underlying the growth, survival, and dispersal of early life stages. Most of the Lab’s work is focused on tropical fish living on coral reefs and their larval stages. For more information, visit: (no non-HMSC page).