The Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) was established in November 1975 by the Research Institutes’ Establishment Order 1975. The headquarters of the Institute is located on Wilmot Point Road, off Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos. She also has outstations at Buguma (River State), Aluu (Rivers State), Sapele (Edo State) and Badore (Lagos) . The main research departments in the Institute are: Aquaculture, Biological Oceanography, Biotechnology, Fisheries Resources, Fish Technology & product development, Marine Geology/Geophysics and Physical/Chemical Oceanography. There are also service departments and section which include: Administration, Finance and Supply, Information and Documentations, Protocol unit, Planning unit, Technical Services, Staff clinic.

Aspiration as a National Fisheries and Oceanography centre of excellence using dedicated, world-class scientists to collect, analyze and provide scientific data and information for the development of scientific products necessary for sustainable exploitation of Nigeria's Marine resources and utilization, coastal and ocean environment for the benefit of our national community at large.