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The Center for Marine Science at UNCW, North Carolina’s Coastal University, is dedicated to discovering and promoting the importance of coastal and marine environments to society. Employing an innovative mindset, we provide research, education, service and outreach to promote understanding, stewardship, and sustainability of coastal and marine habitats.

• Marine science at UNCW spans more than a half a century.
• CMS began at Wrightsville Beach as the Institute of Marine Biomedical Research in 1972 and became Center for Marine Science Research (CMSR) in 1980s.
• CMSR became the Center for Marine Science in 2000 with the addition of the Master of Science in Marine Science program. The same year, CMS relocated to a new 75,000-square-foot facility at the Myrtle Grove campus.
• Directly accessible from the lntracoastal Waterway, the Myrtle Grove campus includes docking facilities and share core laboratories containing state-of-the-art equipment.
• Between 2009 and 2013, a 16,000-square-foot operations wing, 11,000-square-foot Shellfish Research Hatchery and 69,000-square-foot Marine Biotechnology building (MARBIONC) were added to the Myrtle Grove campus, complementing the existing CMS facility and the Aquaculture facility at Wrightsville Beach.

• Recognized as a world-class site for applied marine science, especially in the areas of biotechnology and drug discovery, mariculture and living resources, and coastal monitoring and technology
• Focus on collaborative interdisciplinary programs at state, national and international levels
• Student research in five focus areas: biology, chemistry, geology, physics, and environmental science
• Unique pilot project program to ensure continued cutting-edge science - high risk, high payoff

Learn More About Our Research Programs

• Algal Resources Collection
• Aquaculture
• MARBIONC
• Shellfish Research Hatchery
• Undersea Vehicles Program

• Aquaculture
• Biodiversity
• Coastal Ecology
• Coastal Monitoring
• Coastal Policy
• Coral Reef Ecology
• Estuarine & River Ecology
• Fisheries Biology
• Harmful Algal Studies
• Marine Biotechnology
• Marine Mammals
• Natural Products
• Oceanography
• Ocean Observing Systems
• Ocean Technology

• Offices and laboratories for 40 scientists, 65 students, and 60+ staff
• Facilities for research, education and public outreach (K-12 through lifelong learning), visiting scientists and shared graduate education opportunities
• 147-seat auditorium with state-of­-the-art multimedia equipment
• Lab space available for scientists from other North Carolina universities
• Running seawater at the Myrtle Grove and Wrightsville Beach campuses

Core Facilities & Equipment

• Aerial Drone
• DNA Analysis
• Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry
• Nutrient Analysis
• Oceanographic Instruments
• NMR
• Sediment Analysis
• Spectroscopy

Learn more about our core facilities 

Research Fleet

• R/V Cape Fear (61’)
• R/V Seahawk (34’)
• Small boats (17’-25’)

more about our vessel fleet