Planning summit held for Blaine marine center

Drayton Harbor Oyster Company co-owner Steve Seymour presents during a planning summit on MERIS at Semiahmoo Resort on March 4. MERIS (Marine, Economy, and Research Institute for Sustainability) is an envisioned Blaine marine center on Blaine Harbor that would be used for marine research, education and tourism. Local groups including Drayton Harbor Oyster Company, Whatcom Working Waterfront Foundation and the Drayton Harbor Shellfish Protection District have been working on developing the project concept for the past year.