FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 11, 2016

CONTACTS: Tim Zink, 410-962-4436/Marty Welch 202-224-4524

 

MEDIA ADVISORY 

Cardin in Southern Maryland to PEARL and Oyster Dive 

Senator to visit Morgan State University’s Patuxent Environmental & Aquatic Research Laboratory (PEARL) oyster hatchery, meet with shellfish growers and harvesters, tour oyster farms  

 

Monday, April 11 at 11:00 AM, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) will visit Calvert County, Md., to meet with oyster farmers, sample aquaculture operations in the Patuxent River and tour Morgan State University’s innovative Patuxent Environmental & Aquatic Research Laboratory (PEARL), where a reinvigorated oyster hatchery could help fuel the expansion of Maryland’s promising oyster aquaculture industry. 

“Maryland’s oyster aquaculture industry holds great promise for providing delicious oysters, good jobs in rural areas and significant environmental benefits, and I am proud to continue fighting for its growth,”said Senator Cardin, a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “The PEARL oyster hatchery is poised to begin providing Maryland’s oyster farmers a steady and ready supply of larvae, helping farmers to overcome one of the key challenges to establishing and growing oyster farms. I very much look forward to learning more about the lab’s operations and aspirations, along with touring nearby oyster farms and meeting with the local shellfish growers who are extending Maryland’s reputation for first-class seafood.” 

WHAT:                      PEARL Lab/Oyster Farm Site Tours and Discussion

 

WHO:                        U.S. Senator Ben Cardin

Dr. Victor McCrary, Vice President, Morgan State University

                                                Dr. Kelton Clark, Director, PEARL

                                                Patuxent Seafood Co.

                                                Southern Maryland Shellfish Growers Association

 

WHEN/WHERE:      Monday, April 11

                                    11:00 AM – Patuxent Seafood Co./Oyster Farm Tour

                                                            4149 School Rd., Broomes Island, MD 20615

 

                                    12:15 PM – Working Lunch with Oyster Farmers at PEARL

10545 Mackall Rd., Saint Leonard, MD 20685

 

HOW:                        MEDIA MUST RSVP to Tim Zinktim_zink@cardin.senate.gov