Sen. Richard Blumenthal toured the recently renovated lab at Milford’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center on Monday.

In addition to being responsible for shellfish hatchery, the lab is a world leader in aqua-culture science.

The center is also collaborating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on its Northeast Oyster Breeding Center.

The senator’s visit comes as Connecticut’s legislators lobby for more federal funds supporting the state’s shellfish industry.