Last Saturday, NCCOS staff from the Charleston, South Carolina, laboratories participated in the 2017 Marine Resources Center Open House at Fort Johnson hosted by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

NCCOS interactive exhibits included seagrass and estuary displays, sea urchins, corals, jellyfish, and microscopes to view plankton gathered from Charleston Harbor. Children of all ages learned about coral reefs, marine debris, local marine ecosystems, and protected species. Staff also featured displays of bottlenose dolphin skulls alongside collections of turtles, shark fins, and seal pelts from the NOAA Fisheries forensic labs. Almost 2,000 people were on hand to learn about science activities on the Fort Johnson campus, as well as to participate in educational fishing classes, boating simulators, and educational cruises in Charleston Harbor.

2017 Marine Resources Center Open House at Fort Johnson, South Carolina. Credit: NOAA.

2017 Marine Resources Center Open House at Fort Johnson, South Carolina. Credit: NOAA.