The Port Royal Marine Lab (PRML) was founded in 1955, primarily through the fundraising and administrative efforts of Dr. David Steven, Professor of Zoology at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona and Dr. Ivan Goodbody who managed the general operations and research programmes at the lab.

The primary goal in establishing the PRML was to provide support and a location from which lecturers, researchers and students of the UWI (Mona) could conduct their research in areas including the Kingston Harbour, the Port Royal Cays and the Hellshire shoreline.

The present site was leased and mostly built within the first 5 years.

By 1964, the initial Lab had grown to accommodate seven research laboratories. Several organizations were involved in the development of the lab to this point including the Commonwealth Development and Welfare Fund and the Rockerfeller Foundation.

In 1990, an Aquaculture laboratory was constructed with funds received from the European Economic Union. The complement of research facilities at the PRML included temperature-controlled culture rooms, experimental labs, elevated sea and fresh water tanks as well as store and service rooms. The additional 186sqm for the aquaculture laboratory increased the total size of the to just over 400sqm.

In an effort to further educate the public on the need for conservation, the Biodiversity Centre (BDC) was launched in January 2010 through joint sponsorship between the University of the West Indies (UWI, Mona), and the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ).

Ivan Goodbody checking material brought up by pipe dredge

PRML in 1955

PRML in 1964

Opening of Aquaculture Facility

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