The mission of the Paul S. Sarbanes Cooperative Oxford Laboratory is to improve the health and survival of fish, shellfish and wildlife in Maryland and the mid-Atlantic region by providing high quality information and services to the public, managers, and the research community. The Oxford Laboratory was established in 1960 by the U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries for the primary purpose of investigating oyster diseases that struck Chesapeake and Delaware Bays in the late 1950s. It became the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory in 1987 through an agreement between Maryland DNR and the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service to share the facility and to cooperate in research. In 1998, the newly renovated and expanded facility was dedicated to Senator Paul S. Sarbanes, a friend and mentor to the lab throughout his service in the U.S. Senate. Scientists at the Laboratory investigate health problems of fish, shellfish, and other aquatic life in the Chesapeake Bay and along the Atlantic Coast. They also collaborate with scientists nationally and internationally to improve understanding of aquatic animal health and develop management strategies to prevent and mitigate diseases. The Laboratory participates in the National Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Stranding Network, investigating strandings of these rare and endangered animals in Maryland, and sharing information, samples and expertise with other institutions and coastal states. New techniques for classifying and mapping critical reef habitats in Chesapeake Bay have been developed recently at the Laboratory. These methods are now being applied in Maryland's oyster restoration efforts.

The newly renovated Laboratory has 17,000 square feet of laboratory and office space, including wet labs with flowing estuarine water, and quarantine lab facilities. Full histology capabilities are available for vertebrate and invertebrate tissues. The R/V Laidly, a 55' research vessel equipped with modern navigation and computer mapping gear, is available for in-house research and charter by outside scientists.

The mission of the Oyster Disease Research Project is to develop and perform laboratory assays to detect aquatic animal pathogens, diseases, and toxic agents in finfish and shellfish tissue and environmental samples, and to promote and monitor the health of aquatic animal resource populations. Three distinct subprojects with complementary objectives and distinct specialized tools currently comprise the Project: The Diagnostics & Histology Laboratory, Immunoassay Development, and Phytotoxin Bioassay.

The Fish and Wildlife Health Project has four components involving fish, wildlife, marine mammals, and sea turtles: 1) response to morbidity and mortality events; 2) routine health monitoring on a population level with comprehensive database development; 3) research to address management questions; and 4) outreach to inform and train private, state, and federal biologists and managers, and to disseminate information to the general public. The Mapping and Analysis Project integrates Geographic Information Systems, Global Positioning Systems, and acoustic remote sensing technology to chart benthic habitat throughout the Chesapeake Bay. The focus is on research, assessment, and restoration of oyster and shellfish habitat,using Acoustic Seabed Classification Systems to determine the quality of oyster habitat and to establish calibration and validation techniques suited to the highly turbid waters of the bay. These systems can provide cost-effective and precise information on the restoration potential of specific oyster bars and can aid in evaluating the success of restoration efforts. Our data and video images provide information on bottom habitat at a spatial scale and resolution that surpasses any previous or current capabilities. These data can be used for management decision making, environmental impact assessment, and public information purposes.

To find out about Federal research at SCOL, go to http://chbr.noaa.gov/CooperativeOxfordLaboratory.html

The Laboratory is not an academic institution. However, we maintain partnerships with several universities and offer opportunities for students and postgraduates at all levels to participate in our research programs.

Vic Kennedy, Ph.D., Director. Reproduction, ecology, and behavior of aquatic benthic organisms; introduced species; global climate change (vkennedy@dnr.state.md.us).

State of Maryland Scientists:
Cindy Driscoll, DVM, Fish and Wildlife Health Project - health and disease studies of fish and wildlife (cdriscoll@dnr.state.md.us); Chris Dungan, MS, Oyster Disease Research Project - immunology, microbiology, fish and invertebrate pathology (cdungan@dnr.state.md.us); Carol McCollough, HT(ASCP) - Diagnostics and Histology Lab Manager (cmccollough@dnr.state.md.us); Melba Reantaso, PhD, Oyster Disease Research Project - invertebrate pathology (mreantaso@dnr.state.md.us); Gary Smith, PhD, Mapping and Analysis Project - benthic ecology, seafloor classification, GIS (gsmith@dnr.state.md.us).

Federal Scientists:
Fred Kern, BS, (Acting Branch Chief) - pathobiology; introduction of nonindigenous species (fred.kern@noaa.gov); John Jacobs, MS - fish pathology (john.jacobs@noaa.gov); Andrew Leight, MS - invertebrate toxicology (andrew.leight@noaa.gov); Jay Lewis, MS - molluscan pathobiology; human pathogens in the marine environment and shellfish. (jay.lewis@noaa.gov); Shawn M. McLaughlin, PhD - marine microbiology; culture and biomolecular studies of clam pathogens (shawn.mclaughlin@noaa.gov); Gretchen Messick, MS - crustacean pathology (gretchen.messick@noaa.gov).

Guest Scientists:
Austin Farley, BS; Robert Lippson, PhD; Kilo Park, PhD; Aaron Rosenfield, PhD; Carl Sindermann, PhD.

The Laboratory is situated on the Tred Avon River, an estuarine tributary of Chesapeake Bay in the Town of Oxford on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The site (11.5 acres) includes beachfront, tidal and non-tidal wetlands, pine forest, and an oyster sanctuary.

Victor S. Kennedy, Ph.D., Director (vkennedy@dnr.state.md.us)