Between the museums, restaurants, and shops in Solomons Island, it may be relatively easy for most people to overlook the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory. It’s in a residential area away from most of the activities in town. However, it’s worth a visit if you’re interested in learning more about marine research, particularly in the Chesapeake Bay.
At 2 p.m. each Friday, you can take a tour of the fisheries research complex and hear grad students talk about their projects. On the day of my tour, two grad students were working on blue crab research that involved testing how the crabs responded to different pH levels in the water. This research is important for learning how crabs adjust to the changing environment of the Chesapeake, which may help with conservation efforts.
It’s also fascinating to discover how the research done at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory benefits not only the marine life here in our area, but the people who rely on the Bay for their livelihood. For example, the lab researches diseases that affect oysters and performed a blue crab study that helped increase their population over the past few years.
Chesapeake Biological Laboratory has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 1925 in a small fish shack. The visitor center occupies one of the town’s historic homes at the southern tip of Solomons, with several other buildings for research, offices, and dorms spread out over a few blocks.
If you don’t come when the tour is offered, it’s still worth spending a little time in the visitor center. Kids will enjoy the oyster reef aquarium. Exhibits explain current research, technologies being used by scientists, and data collected by the on-site research pier, among other things. However, I recommend the tour because there is one particularly fun fish fact you will learn. I won’t tell you what it is because I don’t want to spoil the surprise.
barbara says
I enjoyed my tour and the docent was very good. They was no one available to discuss their particular experiments but the lab was very interesting although it is really geared for adults. My grandchildren really enjoyed the aquarium and displays. I would recommend the tour for adults, if you have children let them enjoy the exhibits and skip the tour
yourcalvert says
@barbara I am glad you enjoyed your trip. Thanks for the tip for those with children.