UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 4, Page 2
September 26, 1991
Fish tales, ship tours, food part of Coast Day Oct. 6

     There's something fishy going on at the College of Marine
Studies in Lewes on Sunday, Oct. 6, such as sea critters showing
off in their tank; fish tales and fish prints for children; a surf
casting demonstration for avid anglers; a seafood cooking
demonstration and a crab cake cook-off; advice from the fish
doctor; and lots of fishy foods for sale, including live lobsters,
the perfect take-home souvenir.
     It's Coast Day 1992, with the theme "A Sea Odyssey," an annual
day of celebration and education about Delaware's seacoast,
estuaries and marine resources. Sponsored by the University's
College of Marine Studies as part of its outreach mission as a sea
grant institution, the event is organized by the Sea Grant Marine
Advisory Service and Marine Communications Office personnel. Coast
Day is chaired this year by Joseph Farrell, marine business
specialist with the Sea Grant Advisory Service.
     A tradition since 1977, Coast Day attracted more than 10,000
persons last year and has received awards from the Take Pride in
America program for encouraging stewardship of natural
resources.The fleet's in for the occasion, and visitors are welcome
aboard the University's research vessel, the Cape Henlopen; the
Blue Hen, captained by James R. Neal, which will represent Delaware
in the Columbus 500 Anniversary Sail Adventure (sneakers or deck
shoes required); oil skimmer vessels, the Delbay and Delriver; and
the Wilmington Fire Department Boat Number 7, which will perform
two demonstrations-at noon and 2:30 p.m.
     A new attraction this year will be a chemical magic show by
wizard George W. Luther III, professor of marine studies. Because
of the popularity of this event, tickets will be available a
half-hour before each show at the information table outside of the
Virden Center on a first-come, first-serve basis.
     One of the highlights of Coast Day will be the dedication of
the new Delaware Aquaculture Resource Center, at noon. President
David P. Roselle; Carolyn Thoroughgood, dean of the college; Lt.
Governor Dale Wolf; and Williams B. Chandler, secretary of the
Delaware Department of Agriculture, which funded the center, will
speak. John W. Ewart, aquaculture specialist for the Sea Grant
Advisory Service, will oversee the center's operation.
     Other activities include a muckless marsh walk, an open house
in the Halophyte Biology Laboratory to learn about salt-tolerant
plants, a research demonstration showing the nitrogen use by
microscopic algae and a demonstration of the wind-wave-current
tank.
     A goal of Coast Day is to inform the public about the research
being carried out at the college and about coastal resources.
     An International Marine Research Seminar Series will begin in
the afternoon at 12:30 p.m., and Coastal Processes Seminars will
begin at 1:30 p.m. Throughout the day, there will be
demonstrations, lectures, exhibits and films related to marine
science. Many faculty members and staff from the college will
participate.
     In addition to the many activities during Coast Day,
researchers from the college, the Delaware Geological Survey and
U.S. Geological Survey will be available to test nitrate levels in
drinking water samples.
     Other University colleges will take part in Coast Day with
information centers and displays in the University Research Tent in
the main parking lot.
     Coast Day is free, and parking is $1 per vehicle. For further
information, call the Marine Communications Office at 451-8083.
                                        - Sue Swyers Moncure