On Wednesday, October 11, 2000, NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, a Department of Commerce marine research laboratory located in Pascagoula, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the laboratory as well as NOAA's 30th anniversary. Laboratory employees conducted tours throughout the day. Much of the mission for fisheries research and development depends on the NOAA vessels, and both ships homeported in Pascagoula, the NOAA Ships Oregon II and Gordon Gunter were in port and available for the tour. There were displays of ongoing research and seafood safety projects throughout the laboratory and staff available for narration. Gear displays and dissection demonstrations were also part of the event. Approximately one thousand people, including about 900 students from area schools, senior groups, and many individuals from the community took advantage of the opportunity to better understand how the National Marine Fisheries Service promotes the living marine resources of the United States.