‘The mission of the Port Royal Marine Laboratory is to engage in education, research and community outreach so that all who we serve will understand and value marine systems, and work with us to develop effective methods for marine conservation and restoration to the benefit of our nation, its people and the environment.’

The Port Royal Marine Laboratory (PRML), established in 1955, is a facility of the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica. The marine laboratory and Biodiversity Centre is currently visited by over 5,000 people a year for teaching, research and outreach purposes. This includes research scientists, University staff and students, local schools and organisations.

 

Located on the southeastern coast of Jamaica, the lab is an excellent base for accessing the Kingston Harbour, the Palisadoes-Port Royal Protected Area (P-PRPA - Ramsar Site No. 1454), and the nearby Hellshire coastline encompassing terrestrial and marine areas that include cays, shoals, mangrove lagoons, mangrove islands, coral reefs, seagrass beds and shallow water.

 

Port Royal is one of the five heritage districts on the island under the Jamaica National Heritage Trust Act which include Port Royal Forts, Port Royal, Rockfort, Fort Charles, and the Admiralty Houses. In addition, the area is home to The Underwater City of Port Royal which is a world-recognized underwater archaeological site containing the submerged portion of Port Royal following the 1692 earthquake.

 

The lab is ~6 km from the Norman Manley International Airport which receives all international flights, ~20-25km from the capital Kingston, and ~30km to the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.