History of the Institute
The Institute of Oceanic Research and Development traces its origins to the Fisheries Research Department of the Tokai Institute of Science, founded in Shimizu City in 1947. With the aim of contributing to local industry, the department conducted research on fish finders, transport of sardines essential for skipjack fishing, and the development of electric water thermometers for fishing vessels.
In 1976, the Iriomote Branch was established in Okinawa (later reorganized in 1981, as the independent Okinawa Area Research Center). The Marine Biology Center was established in 1978, followed by the Research Center for Earthquake Prediction in 1995. In April 2016, as part of a university-wide restructuring of research institutes, these centers were reorganized into three divisions: the Marine Observation Research Division, the Earthquake Prediction and Volcano Tsunami Research Division, and the Marine Biology Research Division. In April 2021, the Aquaculture Technology Center was newly established, with Professor Nobuhiko Akiyama serving as its first director.
In collaboration with the School of Marine Science and Technology of the Tokai University, the institute conducts research on deep-sea organisms and seafloor earthquakes using the oceanographic research vessels Bosei-Maru, Hokuto, and Minamijuji, as well as research related to fisheries propagation using land-based experimental facilities. In addition, the institute promotes a variety of studies, including genetic research on microalgae and studies using satellite observation data. These research activities are documented in the Annual Report of Institute of Oceanic Research and Development and the Bulletin of Institute of Oceanic Research and Development both published annually.