DNR Secretary Haddaway-Riccio, in-district legislative staff, and other local leaders pose for a photograph at the Cooperative Oxford Lab, Oxford, MD. Back row (l to r): Brian Richardson; James McKitrick; Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio; Mike Arntz; Kimberly Kratovil; Johnny Mautz ; Suzanne Skelley. Front row (l to r): Bunky Luffman; Chuck Callahan; Carrie Cook; Ryan Snow; Steve Thur; Adelaide Eckardt; Cheryl Lewis; Gordon Graves; Melissa Kelly; Sam Shoge. Not pictured: Gordon Fronk. Photo courtesy Jason Spires, NOAA NCCOS.

Maryland Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR) Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, along with Congressional, Gubernatorial, and State/Local representatives and agency staff visited NCCOS’ Cooperative Oxford Lab (COL) on April 29, 2019. The group learned about the lab’s research and value it provides state, regional, and national science needs.

The group toured the laboratory with research highlights presented by Maryland DNR and NCCOS scientists focused on oyster marking methods, ecological forecasting of bacterial pathogens, mycobacteriosis, and fish health initiatives, and marine mammal, sea turtle, and wildlife health. Following the lab tour, visitors boarded and toured NOAA’s R/V Chesapeake docked at the laboratory.

DNR Secretary Haddaway-Riccio, in-district legislative staff, and other local leaders learn about COL’s Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Response capabilities at the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory. Photo courtesy Suzanne Skelley, NOAA NCCOS.

The breadth of COL’s frontline research and the strong partnerships and collaborations among on-campus partners, NOAA and MD DNR, were shared with Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, Maryland Department of Natural Resources; James McKitrick, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Legislative Director; Carrie Cook, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Executive Assistant; Kim Kratovil, Office of Senator Cardin, Melissa Kelly, Office of Senator Van Hollen; Bunky Luffman, Office of Congressman Harris; Mike Arntz, Office of Congressman Harris; Senator Adelaide Eckardt, Maryland General Assembly; Delegate Johnny Mautz, Maryland General Assembly; Delegate Chris Adams, Maryland General Assembly; Ryan Snow, Eastern Shore Liaison for Governor Hogan; Gordon Fronk, President-Town of Oxford Commission; R. Gordon Graves, Town of Oxford Commissioner; John Pepe, Town of Oxford Commissioner; Cheryl Lewis, Town of Oxford Administrator; Chuck Callahan, Talbot County Council Vice President, and Sam Shoge, Talbot County Economic Development and Tourism.

The group was hosted by Suzanne Skelley, Director of NCCOS/COL, along with Brian Richardson, Director of the MD DNR Fish Health and Hatcheries Program, Dr. Steve Thur, Director of NCCOS, and COL scientists.

The visit highlights the partnerships at COL and the work and collaborations made possible to provide managers and the public information they seek.

For more information, contact: Suzanne Skelley or Gretchen Messick.