On September 9, 1966, the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences adopted a decision to organize the Marine Biology Division in the Far Eastern Affiliate of the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences, with A. V. Zhirmunsky (1921-2000) , Candidate of Science (PhD), as its Head and Organizing Director. On January 1, 1970, the Marine Biology Division was reorganized into the Institute of Marine Biology in accordance with the Resolution No. 55 of September 25, 1969, of the State Committee for Science and Technology of the USSR Council of Ministers and with the Regulation No. 637 of July 16, 1970, of the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences.

The first group of researchers working in the newly organized Institute of Marine Biology included: zoologist and hydrobiologist O.G. Kussakin (1930-2001), PhD, from Leningrad (St.-Petersburg), cytologist Movchan (1925-1969), PhD, from Sukhumi, cytologist N.L. Leibson (1933-2008), PhD, from Leningrad (St.-Petersburg), and zoologist E.I. Shornikov, PhD, from Sevastopol . On January 24, 1989, the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences confirmed V.L. Kasyanov’s (1940-2005), Doctor of Biological Science, appointment as Director of the IMB, and A.V. Zhirmunsky’s appointment as Director Emeritus of the IMB.

MAIN AREAS OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH:

• Studies of flora, fauna, ecology and productivity of biota in the seas of the Russian Far East and the adjacent waters of the Pacific Ocean;
• Research and development of the scientific background to the conservation, reproduction and sustainable management of biological resources in the shelf zone;
• Studies of adaptation, ontogenesis and evolution of marine organisms; medico-biological studies.

The scientists of the institute conduct research on 12 major scientific projects according to the goals outlined in the federal Program of Fundamental Research for State Academies of Sciences. The scientists also work on government contracts and projects supported by competitive grants, which are funded by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (RF), Ministry of Economic Development of the RF, Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR), and various international funds and institutions. These research projects are carried out in all the major regions of the Russian Far East seas, from the Chukotsky Peninsula to the southern fringe of Primorye.

As of July 1, 2011, 373 people work at the institute, including 197 scientists (one Full Academician, two Corresponding Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 31 Doctors of Science; 134 Candidates of Science (PhD); 22 Postgraduate Students, working in 19 laboratories and departments. Within the past five years three researchers of the institute have defended dissertations for Doctor of Science degree, and 43 researchers, for Candidate of Science (PhD) degree. The Institute of Marine Biology operates four field stations - Vostok and Zapad on the coast of Vostok Bay, 40 km from Nakhodka, Sokol on Sakhalin Island, and Raduga in Kamchatka. The institute hosts the Cooperative Far Eastern Center of Electron Microscopy, Cooperative Center “Fleet of Small Boats for Coastal and Nearshore Research”, Center for Marine Biological Invasion and Ballast Water Monitoring, Center of Aquaculture and Coastal Bioresources, and Center for Toxic Algae and Algal Blooms Monitoring in Coastal Waters. The IMB has several coastal vessels and remotely operated underwater vehicles.

More than 150 monographs, 100 collections of papers, and over 4000 scientific papers in Russian and international journals have been published by researchers of the institute. In 1975, under the aegis of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (since 1991, the Russian Academy of Sciences), the IMB began to publish the scientific journal Biologiya Morya. A full-English translation of the journal is issued by the MAIK/ Interperiodica Co. (Moscow) as Russian Journal of Marine Biology.

Works of the scientists from the Institute of Marine Biology have been repeatedly appreciated by international specialists. The IMB is among the best FEB RAS scientific institutes in the number of publications included in international databases of scientific information and in the number of citations from these publications. The IMB rates first among the FEB RAS biological institutes in the number of works estimated by the Presidium of the RAS as the most important results of fundamental research.

The members of the institute have repeatedly received personal prizes, awards, grants, and diplomas from the President of Russia, from Russian and international foundations. Several members of the IMB have won the titles of the Honored Science Worker of the Russian Federation, Honored Ecologist of the Russian Federation, won the special prize "For Selfless Devotion" from the Likhachev International Charity Foundation for the contribution to the development of culture in Russia, the titles Honored Citizen of Vladivostok, Honored Citizen of Khasan Municipal District, and several medals and orders.

The institute has three dissertation committees. The D 005.008.01 dissertation committee supervises dissertations in genetics, histology, cytology, cell biology, developmental biology, and embryology (biological sciences). The D 005.008.02 committee supervises dissertations in hydrobiology and ichthyology (biological sciences). The DM 005.008.03 committee supervises dissertations in physiology (biological and medical sciences).

Graduate programs are available for the following 12 specialities: 03.01.02 biophysics; 03.01.04 biochemistry; 03.01.05 plant physiology and biochemistry; 03.02.04 zoology; 03.02.06 ichthyology; 03.02.07 genetics; 03.02.08 ecology; 03.02.10 hydrobiology; 03.03.01 physiology; 03.03.04 histology, cytology, and cell biology; 03.03.05 developmental biology and embryology; and 14.03.06 pharmacology and clinical pharmacology.

ADMINISTRATION

• Director of the Institute, Doctor of Biological Science A.V. Adrianov
• Deputy Director for Research, Doctor of Biological Science Yu.S. Khotimchenko
• Deputy Director for Research, Doctor of Chemical Science A.B. Imbs
• Deputy Director for Research, Doctor of Biological Science D.L. Pitruk
• Deputy Director for Economic Affairs M.V. Apukhtina
• Scientific Secretary V.E. Zhukov, Candidate of Biological Science (PhD)
• Chief Accountant N.A. Pushtova
• Head of Personnel Department I.L. Borisova
• Assistant Manager E.I. Vysochin

LABORATORIES

• Laboratory of Chorology
• Laboratory of the Ecology of Shelf Communities
• Laboratory of Planktonology
• Laboratory of Production Biology
• Laboratory of Embryology
• Laboratory of Invertebrate Ecology
• Laboratory of Benthos Ecology
• Laboratory of Genetics
• Laboratory of the Population Biology of Fish
• Laboratory of Ichthyology
• Laboratory of Physiology
• Laboratory of Pharmacology
• Laboratory of Cytophysiology
• Laboratory of Comparative Cytology
• Laboratory of Comparative Biochemistry
• Laboratory of Cell Biophysics
• Laboratory of Cytotechnology
• Laboratory of the Physiology of Marine Autotrophic Organisms
• Department of Hyperbaric Physiology and Diving Medicine

BIOLOGICAL STATIONS

• Marine biological station Vostok
• Marine biological station Zapad
• Biological station Sokol
• Biological station Raduga

NATURE CONSERVATION DIVISIONS

• Zaliv Vostok State Marine Refuge

CENTERS

• Cooperative Far Eastern Center of Electron Microscopy
• Center for Marine Biological Invasion and Ballast Water Monitoring
• Center for Toxic Algae and Algal Blooms Monitoring in Coastal Waters
• Center of Aquaculture and Coastal Bioresources
• Cooperative Center "Fleet of Small Boats for Coastal and Nearshore Research"

Research work in the institute is supported by the following service divisions: Marine Department, Scuba Service, Aquarium Service, Library, Museum, Department of Scientific Equipment, Department of Computer Technologies, Research Support Department, Department of Intellectual Property, Purchasing Department, Building Maintenance Department, Construction and Repair Division, and Transportation Division.