The Florida Marine Research Institute began as a small field station founded by the University of Florida in March 1955 at the Maritime Training Base on Bayboro Harbor in St. Petersburg. The laboratory was established to conduct research on red tides, which had plagued Florida's west coasts during the 1940's and 1950's. In September 1955, the Florida State Board of Conservation (now the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) assumed operation of the laboratory. The staff consisted of one biologist, Bob Hutton, and one laboratory technician, Bonnie Eldred. A small building was provided rent-free by the City of St. Petersburg. There was about $15,000 in funding to do red tide research.
(Photo: Early 1960's at the lab)

In 1957 Robert M. Ingle was named Director of research and in charge of the laboratory. Prior to this, Bob had run the oyster studies in Apalachicola. Funding for much of the laboratory research up until the early 1960's had come from dredged dead oyster shell and red tide funds that had been redirected from the University of Miami to Florida's Marine Laboratory. By 1966, there were 40 scientists, 16 support staff, a few small boats, several field labs in addition to the Bayboro Peninsula lab, and a 72' wooden-hulled shrimp trawler called the R/V Hernan Cortez. This vessel was donated by L.C. Ringhaver of St. Augustine and allowed the Marine Laboratory to expand the horizon of their research to the west Florida shelf and conduct the Hourglass Cruises.
(Photo: 1960's R/V Venus used for the clam dredge research project)

In 1969 the Board of Conservation became the Florida Department of Natural Resources and the Saltwater Fisheries Division became the Division of Marine Resources. The Florida Marine Laboratory was in the Bureau of Marine Science and Technology. During this time, the laboratory's research programs grew to include spiny lobster, reproductive physiology of fishes, aquaculture, and other projects funded by the dead oyster shell royalties, red tide funds, and federal funds. In 1971-72 the lab was faced with a near closure due to the loss of royalties and the need to match federal dollars. Three field labs were closed and 5 biologists were laid off. Fortunately, local and legislative efforts raised $77,000 to pay off the lab's debt and the doors were kept open.
(Photo: Early field lab boats were small)

In 1972, Bob Ingle retired as Director of research in charge of the laboratory and Ed Joyce took his place. In 1975, Ed became Division Director and Dale Beaumariage took his place as Bureau Chief in Tallahassee. Fred Kalber became the lab supervisor from 1975-1978. When Fred moved on to Georgia Sea Grant, Karen Steidinger took his place as lab supervisor. At that time there were two buildings on Bayboro Peninsula, 3 field labs, and about 75 staff. The programs in the 1970's included fisheries biology, descriptive biology, power plant thermal studies, red tide, mariculture, and fish disease.
(Photo: Karen Steidinger in front of a compound microscope)

In 1980, Karen Steidinger became Bureau Chief of Marine Science and Technology with responsibilities for the marine research laboratory, the Department's shellfish program (whose headquarters were in Tallahassee), and for field offices around the state. Charles Futch was the Assistant Bureau Chief and George Henderson became Laboratory Supervisor. In 1983, with the leading efforts of Charles and John Schneider, the Marine Laboratory successfully raised the shellfish program to its own Bureau rank and it became the Bureau of Marine Resource Regulation and Development. The lab then became the Bureau of Marine Research and stayed that name until 1988 when, through a legislative initiative, it was changed to the Florida Marine Research Institute. (The concept of an institute was first expressed by the then Executive Director of DNR, Tom Gardner.)
(Photo: Ed Joyce, Charlie Futch and Bob Presley work a plankton net off the stern of the Hernan -- early 1960's)