OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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The Oregon Sea Grant-operated Visitor Center is the public education wing of the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport. Over 150,000 people pass through the doors of the Visitor Center annually to see the exhibits, join in hands-on activities and learn about marine animals and issues facing the coast. Take a video tour of the Center.
The skates have hatched!
We are delighted to welcome these big skate hatchlings to our estuary tanks located to the left of the front entrance.
Take a look at this amazing video of this big skate's first moments swimming in the tank.
These skates were brought to our Aquatic Animal Health Program by a local beachcomber. Read about their rescue and how our aquarists were able to hatch them.
We are delighted to announce that we have a new octopus on exhibit!
This male octopus was recently donated to us by a local fisherman and currently weighs about 7.5 pounds. We are not sure how old he is because an octopus' size depends on how much it eats. We did spot the hectocotylus on our new octopus. This is one of the arms of a male that is specialized to store and transfer spermatophores to the female. This arm is distinct because it does not have suckers on the end of it.
Octopus feedings will be on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. starting June 3rd.
We like to keep a backup octopus for when the tank's occupant needs a break or is ready to release back into the ocean to breed. We gladly accept live octopus donations from the fishing community, recreational fishers, tide poolers and beachcombers who have a state-issued shellfish license. Contact our aquarist if you have an octopus to donate.
Roll up your sleeves and touch marine animals in our tidepool tanks! Gently pet fish, abalone and sea stars. Discover what happens when you stroke the sticky tentacles of a sea anemone. Friendly volunteers are on hand to answer questions and help you explore.
How do tsunamis affect structures on the coast? Take the Tsunami Wave Tank Engineering Challenge! See if you can build something that will withstand the energy of a tsunami wave.
Visitors of all ages are welcome to play in this sandbox. At this exhibit, you move the sand in the sandbox and watch how the contour lines, projected on the sand, change. These contour lines, just like the ones on maps, mark different elevations.
Hatfield Marine Science Center Visitor Center
2030 SE Marine Science Drive
Newport, OR 97365-5229
Phone: 541-867-0100; Option 2
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