The Marine Biological Association of India was established in the year 1958 to serve the cause of promotion of research on marine sciences in the Asia-Pacific region. Enshrined in the articles of the association is the primary cause to create among its members an active interest in the field of marine biology and allied marine sciences. The association carries out this objective by:
- Organising lectures, symposia and seminars on specific subjects
- Offering requisite information to research workers and studentsUndertaking research in marine biological sciences
- Publishing the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India (JMBAI)
- Publishing occasional Memoirs, Monographs andBibliographies on topics of current interest in marine biology
- Instituting fellowships and studentships to research workers at various recognized institutions
- Sponsoring and aiding expeditions in Indian Seas
- Institution of prizes in recognition of outstanding contributions towards advancement of marine biological sciences
From all over the world Institutional Members constitute nearly 1000. During the past 66 years, the Association has conducted a number of international symposia focusing attention on specific areas of topical interest in marine biology. These were on Scombroid fishes (1962); Crustacea (1965); Mollusca (1968); Corals and Corel Reefs (1969); Indian Ocean and Adjacent Seas (1971); Coastal Aquaculture (1980); Endangered Marin Animals and Marine Parks (1985); Tropical Marine Living Resources (1988),Eco-friendly Mariculture Technologies (2000), Perspectives in Mariculture (2001), Marine Ecosystems Challenges and Opportunities MECOS 09 (2009), Challenges in Marine Mammal Conservation and Research in the Indian Ocean- CIMCAR (2011), MECOS2 (2014), National Conference on Marine Debris-COMAD(2018) and MECOS3 (2020).
The papers presented in the symposia have been published as proceedings which have been well received in different parts of the world. The monographs, memoirs and bibliographies published by the MBAI are widely used by the scientific community.
The official organ of the Association, the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India is being published from 1959 and has now completed 66 volumes containing over 4450 scientific papers. Most of these papers are of seminal nature, and therefore, the journal has attained the status of a premier journal in the field of marine science with a NAAS impact factor of 5.08.
The Marine Biological Association of India is governed by a President, supported by two Vice-Presidents, a Secretary, an Associate Secretary, a Treasurer, an Associate Treasurer, a Chief Editor along with five Editors, six Editorial Committee Members, five Executive Members, and an Office Assistant. The Association operates from the premises of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in Cochin, Kerala, India.
