About Us

PSSCEC is located on an 8-acre tract of land located immediately adjacent to Assateague Island National Seashore Headquarters on MD 611. The site has several features that make it unique. Assateague Island is a barrier island system ~ 27 miles long and averages 0.5 miles in width. The island is bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west by the Sinepuxent and Chincoteague Bays. Because of Assateague Island’s undeveloped character and its close proximity to Ocean City, MD., it offers a unique opportunity to examine the ecological effects of resort development and other human activities on barrier island systems. This facility serves as a field laboratory for UMES’ Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center (LMRCSC – www.umes.edu/lmrcsc/), USDA funded programs, and for Business incubation (partnering with the Worcester County Department of Economic Development – www.worcestercountyonline.com) for industries.