Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Science for the Bay, Impact for the World W&M's Batten School & VIMS confront societal challenges in coastal and marine systems through innovation, research and discovery, translating findings into practical solutions and training the next generation of scientists and citizens.

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News & Features

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In the News An Average Year for Juvenile Striped Bass The 2025 Juvenile Striped Bass Seine Survey recorded a mean value of 5.12 fish per seine haul, representing an improvement over the previous two years of below-average recruitment.

Matt LaGanke (left) plans to utilize his Ph.D. and sub-concentration in shellfish aquaculture to strengthen the connection between academic research and aquaculture farm practices.

In The News Shellfish Aquaculture Specialization Creates Industry-Ready Graduates The new sub-concentration in shellfish aquaculture is designed to prepare graduates to lead in the development of globally relevant science and as members of a growing industry.

In the News Bay Scallops Surge on the Eastern Shore Once locally extinct due to habitat loss, the Virginia bay scallop population is increasing exponentially in the southern coastal bays along the Eastern Shore following dedicated restoration efforts by scientists at the Batten School & VIMS.

A juvenile carangidae appears to be holding an anemone in its mouth. Photo by Linda Ianniello.

In the News Blackwater Photos Suggest Fish-Anemone Symbiosis Underwater night-time images featured in a new article show rarely seen interactions between fish and anemone, ones that may provide mutual benefits.

In the News Warming Oceans May Threaten American Lobsters New research suggests that rising temperatures in the Gulf of Maine may place significant stress on American lobster embryos.

In the News Hands-on science at 12th annual Marine Life Day inspires Eastern Shore residents, visitors W&M's Batten School & VIMS Eastern Shore Laboratory recently buzzed with activity as families looked through microscopes, completed a scavenger hunt and touched shellfish, sponges, urchins and other live specimens.

In the News Biodiversity Stabilizes Commercial Fisheries A new study based on long-term data from the Batten School & VIMS' CHesMMAP survey demonstrates that commercial fisheries function much like an investment portfolio: diversity brings stability.

In the News New Student Field Orientation is an Unparalleled Introduction to Hands-On Research For new graduate students at W&M's Batten School & VIMS, orientation includes an immersive, awe-inspiring field trip to the barrier island environment of Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

Scientist Chelsea Clifford explores a ditch near Woodville Park in Gloucester, VA.

In the News Ditches as Multifunctional Waterways Ditches do more than drain. With smart management, these often overlooked waterways can filter runoff, support wildlife and act as signals for water quality issues and sea level rise.

Underwater shot of submerged aquatic vegetation

In the News Seagrass Swap Could Reshape Bay Food Web Study shows an ongoing transition from eelgrass to widgeon grass as the dominant seagrass species in the Chesapeake Bay could have ecological impacts across food webs, fisheries and ecosystem functions.

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What We Do

Photo of two children seining on the York River.

What We Do

Research & Advisory Services

VIMS is a premier coastal and marine sciences research institute and a state agency with a mandate to conduct research and provide sound scientific advice to the Commonwealth of Virginia. In the years since our founding in 1940, we have developed unique capabilities in people, practices and infrastructure that allow us to provide the honest, unbiased science and guidance needed to help address the pressing issues facing our rivers, estuaries, coasts and oceans.

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Batten School

William & Mary's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences is a preeminent graduate school, providing a world-class education in coastal and marine sciences. M.A., M.S., and Ph.D. programs prepare students to address societal and global challenges in estuarine, coastal and marine systems. At the undergraduate level, students in the new coastal and marine sciences major receive full tuition support through The R. Todd Stravitz Scholars Program. A minor in Marine Science is also available through a collaboration with Arts & Sciences at William & Mary.

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Outreach & Education

Our outreach activities and place-based learning opportunities for school groups, teachers, political leaders and the public reach more than 30,000 people each year. Developing an engaged citizenry ready to tackle the challenges posed by global change is a core element of our work.

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Upcoming Events

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