UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 3, Page 4
September 15, 1994
Annual Coast Day fest in Lewes to spotlight the sea

     Catch a Golden Opportunity" is the theme of the 18th annual Coast
Day festival, scheduled for 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 2, on the
Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes. Sponsors at the University Sea Grant
College Program and College of Marine Studies have developed a wide
range of programs and events, so visitors will have plenty of
opportunities for both learning and fun at this celebration of
Delaware's marine and coastal resources.
     Faculty and students will be in their laboratories to discuss
research findings and answer visitors' questions about the marine
environment. Favorite activities-such as the Crab Cake Cook-off,
muckless marsh walk, marine critter learning tanks and fish
printing-will return this year, as well as demonstrations and exhibits
ranging from setting up an aquarium to hands-on seafood preparation to
the U.S. Coast Guard's air-sea rescue operations.
     Vessels, including the Wilmington fire boat and the Delaware Bay
and River Cooperative's oil-skimmer DELRIVER, will be stationed in the
harbor to provide demonstrations and tours.
     The Delaware Marine Trades Association will return for its second
annual Coast Day Boat Show. In addition to displaying more than 30
boats, association members will encourage kids' awareness of boating
safety by handing out 300 free life jackets to children under 12 who
sign a pledge to always wear their life vests when on board a boat.
     Vendors of nautical crafts and fresh seafood and other edibles
will offer their wares for sale, while environmental organizations and
resource agencies from around the state will staff information booths
throughout the day. The Beach Brothers, a quartet that plays a variety
of musical styles, will provide entertainment.
     Two speaker series are planned to focus on Delaware's estuarine
and coastal resources and the need to protect the "golden
opportunities" they provide. The first series will feature
presentations by CMS faculty and researchers on the status of Mid-
Atlantic fisheries and how stocks can be improved through aquaculture
and habitat improvement. The second series will focus on hazards that
threaten our economic and recreational opportunities on the Delaware
coast, such as beach erosion and oil spills, and what is being done to
prevent or mitigate the damage. Admission to Coast Day is free;
parking is $2.
     For additional information, please call the Marine Communications
Office at 831-8083.