History
The initiative to form a European Society for Marine Biotechnology (ESMB) came from Professor Gaetano Salvatore at an ad hoc meeting he set up during IMBC ´94 in Tromsø. This officially launched the society and a Board to work out its structure. Societies for marine biotechnology already existed in Japan, USA and SouthEast Asia. Thus, it was envisaged that a European Society would stimulate cooperation within marine biotechnology in Europe, act as a bridge in international cooperation - and help to promote marine biotechnology in Europe. The society would also advocate marine biotechnology within the network of European academic societies. It was also envisaged that ESMB would take part in the organization of future IMBC´s, and help to organize meetings on specific topics in Europe.
It was agreed that the ESMB from the start should be a "low-profile, non-bureaucratic organization" concentrating on the promotion of marine biotechnology and scientific cooperation within this field. Because of the rather complex nature of scientific cooperation between scientists from the many nations in Europe, it was agreed that the ESMB could help to exchange information between prospective partners by keeping an internet page.
Initially with "no formal members and no budget", it was envisaged that the Society could only become effective after IMBC´97, and a working group was elected as a Board to help the formation of the society. This group consisted of Professor Jan A. Olafsen, Tromsø, Norway (president), Professor Yves LeGal, Concarneau, France (secretary general) and Dr. J. Grant Burgess, Edinburgh, UK (information and publications officer).

Support for Marine Biotechnology Research in Europe
Marine biology has long traditions in Europe, and there are a large number of research stations and vessels covering widely different marine habitats and research areas. These facilities include traditional marine biological stations and research vessels that operate within an established framework of international cooperation, and new aquaculture stations that offer controlled conditions to study a wide variety of marine organisms under controlled conditions. The facilities operates under widely different conditions from the Arctic to the Mediterranean.

The interest in marine biology in Europe has been closely related to the utilization of marine resources and developments in the fisheries. The emergence of an aquaculture industry with urgent needs for feed formulation and disease prevention brought forward an increased focus on molecular biology. However, there are wide geographical differences between the interest in shellfish aquaculture in South Europe, and the rapidly growing finfish aquaculture and related industries in the North. Interest in other areas, such as marine bioactive compounds, has been more limited. Compared to the United States and Japan, Europe has not seen the same interest in developments within "marine biotechnology" - acting as a bridge between traditional- and molecular biology and focusing on new products from the sea. Instead the focus has remained related to developments within fisheries and aquaculture. 

The rather limited support for marine biotechnology in Europe so far could be due to traditions, the complexity of cooperation between different nations - and a lack of political or industrial support. 

Scientific cooperation has traditionally operated through European networks, and is presently organized by the European Union. In science, this European cooperation also includes "external partners" (non-EU countries such as Iceland and Norway) on equal terms. Cooperation within molecular biology has been carried since the early 1980´s.
Because of the complexity of scientific collaboration within the EU-framework - involving partners from different countries - there is a need for information in order to find the right partner. Also there is a need to increase mobility, particularly among young scientists, in order to better utilize the infrastructures and biological models that are already present. ESMB will help to promote such mobility, and will also take a part in cooperation within higher education within marine biotechnology in Europe. The society will thus function as a body for inter-European cooperation and as a link to the international Marine Biotechnology network that currently exist in the US and Japan.

International marine biotechnology
We have seen, during the last ten years, the creation of centers in marine biotechnology, merging traditional marine biology with modern molecular biology. These centers are generally well equipped, and have recruited scientists internationally by providing facilities or access to interesting marine model systems. Such "centers" are also being established within academic institutions that are heavily committed to research in marine biology, and will become an instrument in education. The rationale for this network is to make local experimental facilities, scientific skill and biological models available to the international society.
The need for ESMB is related to the necessity for international cooperation within marine biotechnology. If an international Federation of Marine Biotechnology Societies is formed, ESMB will be required if Europe is to take part in future international cooperation, and to elect delegates to organize future IMBC´s. In the increasing complexity of international research cooperation ESMB could also have a role in bridging gaps and bringing partners together.

Meetings
A first European Conference on marine biotechnology, organized by Yves Le Gal, was held 1992 in Montpellier, France. An increased interest in European cooperation within marine biotechnology has emerged in the last five years, with a number of national and international congresses hosted in various parts of Europe. International marine biotechnology conferences ("IMBC´s") were held in Tromsø, Norway in 1994 and in Naples, Italy in 1997.
The EU organized the Second MAST Days and EUROMAR Market, in Sorrento in November 1995, and the programme included a discussion "Biotechnology in Marine Science: Can Europe Play a Significant Role ? ". The First UK conference on marine biotechnology (UKMBC) was organized in Edinburgh, August 1996. The potential of marine microorganisms was pointed out in a report to the European Commission from the US/EU workshop "Marine Microorganisms - Research Issues for Biotechnology"in Brussels October 1996 (written by Prof. J. A. Olafsen and Prof. R.R. Colwell). The ESMB will recommend a joint research programme between the EU and the USA, as suggested in the report, as it is believed that such cooperation between scientists from Europe and USA will greatly benefit developments in this field.
The ESMB does not see a need to organize general European conferences in marine biotechnology. Instead the society will encourage focused conferences on specific topics. In 1997 a symposium was held in Brest, France (Marine Microorganisms for Industry) and in 1998, a symposium will be held in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands (Marine Bioprocess Engineering). Furthermore, the ESMB will encourage initiatives to organize advanced study courses in the area of marine biotechnology.

What has been achieved
The ESMB was officially registered in France in 1995.  Dr Jean-Pascal Bergé  is registered as treasurer.
Contact with the EU has ensured support for meetings organized by the ESMB.
Reduced rates for the journal  Marine Biotechnology available to members.
The ESMB has elected European members for the IMBC International Organizing Committee (IOC).
Organized three meetings.
Development of curricula for teaching Marine Biotechnology in higher education.