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For over four decades the shared vision of founder J. Seward Johnson, Sr. and inventor Edwin Link to explore, protect and wisely use the oceans’ resources shaped the work at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. Today, articulated as Ocean Science for a Better World™, this same vision drives over 140 Harbor Branch Oceanographic scientists, engineers and support staff to be leaders in ocean-related innovation, exploration, research, education and conservation.

In the deep sea, our ship and research submersibles enable us to explore and work in depths as great as 3,000 ft. Our scientists study and unravel the oceans’ mysteries and identify unique organisms that are evaluated for their disease-fighting potential.

Closer to our coastline, we study deep and shallow coral reefs, sea grasses and marine mammals and how these communities are affected by human impacts.

On land, our aquaculture team works on new ways to farm seafood, and our engineers support research and exploration missions with custom-designed platforms, vehicles, tools and instruments.

In the classroom, our specialized graduate and undergraduate programs in marine science and biotechnology give students a chance to augment textbook learning with the resources of a leading oceanographic institute.

In 2007 Harbor Branch became a research institute of Florida Atlantic University, paving the way to expand opportunities in ocean technology, coastal and deep sea exploration and research, marine biotechnology, aquaculture, ocean and human health, and marine science education.

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute's Research

• Harbor Branch scientists in 1975 discovered Florida’s Oculina deepwater coral reefs and were instrumental in making them the first marine protected area for deepwater coral in the world.
• Studying the highly diverse Indian River Lagoon for over three decades includes monitoring its sea grasses and water quality to predict the impact of freshwater runoff and nutrient loading on ecosystem and animal health.
• Documenting the harmful effects of algal blooms on coastal habitats and identifying likely sources of nitrogen inputs that cause the blooms
• Completing a five-year comparative study of the health of Indian River Lagoon and Charleston, SC bottlenose dolphins that serve as sentinels of ocean and human health
• Discovering chemicals from marine sponges that show strong potential to fight pancreatic cancer
• Rescuing dolphins, manatees, and even Arctic seals in Florida; since 1999 more than 200 marine mammals were rescued
• Partnering with Alaskan communities to conduct population DNA studies of Alaskan beluga whales in support of conservation
• Protecting manatees in Florida waterways through development and installation of navigation lock safety technology
• Using aquaculture to restore apple snails, the primary diet for the endangered Florida kite, and redfish for Florida sportfishing
• Developing fish farming systems for growing saltwater fish, such as pompano and cobia, in fresh water to meet worldwide seafood demand
• Developing underwater laser imaging systems to visualize details of the seafloor in murky waters for use by the U.S. Navy in Homeland Security
• Developing swarming architecture robotics as prototype platforms for scientific and military observing stations
• Creating the Marine and Oceanographic Academy with the St. Lucie County School District to educate the next generation of marine scientists and engineers