The increased interest to the study of the Black Sea and its resources led to idea to establish a full-fledged marine research institution in Odesa. The main Black Sea shelf, located in its northwestern part, in practice is the most promising in this view.

At the middle 20th Century, the river deltas and estuaries of the Black Sea have been already study by the Institute of Hydrobiology of the NAS of Ukraine, in complex with inland waters. Nevertheless, the delta fronts, as well as the highly productive zones of Ukrainian shelf, which are under influence of the riverine outlet, were never harbored by the studies. These waters are dynamic and most important, especially in fisheries purpose, therefore required regular attention of scientists. The acuteness and urgency of this problem were well understood by the director of the Institute of Hydrobiology, corresponding member of the Academy of Science of Ukraine, Yakiv Roll. Therefore, at beginning of 1950s he started the search of a scientist, capable to organize a large-scale comprehensive study of the North-Western Black Sea. His choice fell on the famous marine biologist, Professor Konstantin Vinogradov.

In 1953, K. Vinogradov arrived in Odesa and formulated the future scientific institution justification.

In 1954, the special resolution about the establishment of the Odesa Biological Station of the Institute of Hydrobiology was passed by the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. It was the first academic scientific institution in Odesa. Its task was the comprehensive study of changes in the hydrobiological regime of the North-Western Black Sea. Especially, it was actual taking into account the artificial regulation of the riverine flows of the rivers Dnieper and Dniester, and the impact of the River Danube, the largest river in Europe.

At the end of 1956, 5 scientists were employed at the new Scientific Station, including one professor/DSc, three PhD, and two PhD students. The «Academician Zernov», the research vessel of the Institute of Hydrobiology of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, was used for sea expeditions.

Since 1959, the Scientific Station started to publish proceeding series in Ukrainian, called «Scientific notes of the Odesa Biological Station». Five issues were published until 1962.

In 1961, the Scientific Station gets its own sea research vessel «Miklukho-Maklay», with total cavity of 300 tons, which then were used during about 30 years (till 1988). The scientific researches not only of the North-Western Black Sea shelf, but also all the Black Sea, Sea of Azov and the Caspian Sea, were provided using this vessel. All these water bodies are related to the Ponto-Caspian region, with common elements of flora and fauna, originated from a unique relic water body. A valuable comparative data was obtained as the result of the works.

In 1964, three marine biological stations, which worked at the Black Sea, i.e. Sevastopol, Odesa and Karadag Stations, were reorganized as united institute. The new institute was called the Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas (IBSS), but the Odesa Scientific Station was reorganized to its Odesa Branch. The newly organized branch did not change the profile of its work, prolonging to develop the study of the North-Western Black Sea, including lagoons, estuaries and riverine deltas.

The negative effects of irrational human activity appeared especially in this part of the Black Sea in few years. The quality of its waters and bottom sediments were abruptly changed, which affect the species composition and quantitative characteristics of the pelagic and benthic communities, then greatly undermining the commercial resources of the sea. The scientists of the Odesa Branch of the IBSS (OB IBSS) first payed attention to the negative processes in the sea life and began their comprehensive study.

As a result, the OB IBSS gradually accumulated comprehensive systematized data on anthropogenic changes in the ecosystem of the Black Sea and its coastal water bodies. The specialized database allowed the team to develop new approaches to forecasting changes in pelagic and benthic communities. As well, it helps to identify the ways to improve the quality of the coastal zone environment by methods of biological melioration.

Until July 2014, the branch was a part of the IBSS, also of the Oceanological Center of the NAS of Ukraine. Since July 2, 2014, in accordance to resolution № 161 of the Presidium of the NAS of Ukraine, the institution received the status of the Institute of Marine Biology of the NAS of Ukraine (IMB of the NAS of Ukraine).

Konstantin Vinogradov, DSc, Professor. The head of the Odesa Biological Station of the Institute of Hydrobiology of the AS of Ukraine in 1953–1964. The head of the OB IBSS in 1964–1972.

Yuvenaly Zaitsev, DSc, Professor, Academician of the NAS of Ukraine, Honored worker on Science and Technology of Ukraine. The head of the OB IBSS in 1972–1989. Since 1989 – leading researcher of the OB IBSS.

Aleksandr Bronfman, DSc, Professor, State Prize Laureate. The head of the OB IBSS in 1989–1994.

Borys Aleksandrov, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, DSc, Professor, Honored Worker if Science and Technology of Ukraine. The head of the OB IBSS since 1994. Since July 2014 until December 2019 – the director of IMB.

Halyna Minicheva, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, DSc, Laureate of the State Prize in Science and Technology of Ukraine. Since 27.12.2019 – Acting Director of the State Institution «IMB of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine». Since 17 September 2020 – Director of the Institution.