Usa Marine Biological Institute

The Usa Marine Biological Institute (UMBI) (sometimes referred to as MBI-Japan, Japanese Marine Biological Institute, Usa Kaiyo Center or just Usa) is one of the oldest and largest centers for phycology, marine biology research, graduate training, and public service in Japan. It is devoted to scientific research leading to MS and PhD degrees in phycology, marine biology and related fields. It grants degrees jointly with Kochi University.

UMBI is located in the village of Usa cho, Kōchi Prefecture, Japan.

History
The Usa Marine Biological Station was founded in 1953 as an independent research institute. The Usa Fisheries Laboratory was founded in 1968. In 1978, the two organizations were merged to form the Usa Marine Biological Institute.

In parallel, its main publication, Reports of the Usa Marine Biological Station (July 1954–1978), became the Reports of the Usa Marine Biological Institute starting with the March 1979 issue. Under the directorship of Professor Masao Ohno, the institute established a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) training program in marine biology, since when a large number of foreign researchers have come to the institute to pursue short-term research projects. The current director, Professor Izumi Kinoshita, supervises and coordinates the JICA training program.

In 2004, UMBI started a new graduate program, Kuroshio Sciences, jointly with Kochi University, to study the Kuroshio Current from an interdisciplinary perspective.

UMBI graduate students are supported by various financial aid schemes, especially the Monbukagakusho MEXT International PhD Program.

Vessels
UMBI operates several crewed research vessels and vehicles, owned by Kochi University or the Japanese Government:
 * R/V Yutaka Hata Maru
 * R/V Neptune
 * R/V Hamayu
 * R/V Triton

Laboratories

 * Early life-history of fishes
 * Zooplankton Ecology
 * Crustacean Ecology
 * Marine Phycology

Phycological research


Usa Marine Biological Institute is renowned for marine phycological research. Emeritus Professor Masao Ohno was the first person in Japan to use an artificial seeding method for the commercial cultivation of green algae. The institute is one of the pioneer research institutes in the world for the study of Ulvophycean algae and has state-of-art facilities for marine phycological research.

Contemporary marine phycology research in the UMBI focuses on culture studies to establish life-histories of Ulvophycean algae (Ulva and Monostroma), tank cultivation of Ulva using deep seawater (conducted jointly with the Deep Seawater Research Center, Muroto, Japan) and the ecology of Ecklonia and Sargasm species in the Pacific Ocean.

Notable alumni

 * Masao Ohno
 * Professor Nakauchi
 * Professor Yamaoka