The Australian Institute of Marine Science Act 1970 (Section 4(1)) created the Institute and provided for the appointment of an
Interim Council (Section 6(1)). The Australian Institute of Marine Science Act 1972, assented to on 9 June 1972, repealed the Act of 1970 but the Institute itself was continued under the same name and with the functions as set out in the 1970 Act (1).

The Institute was established at Cape Pallarenda in Townsville.
 
The functions of the Institute are:
 
(a)  to carry out research in marine science;
 
(b)  to arrange for the carrying out of research in marine
     science by any other institution or person;
 
(c)  to co-operate with other institutions and persons in
     carrying out research in marine science;
 
(d)  to provide any other institution or person with facilities     
     for carrying out research in marine science or otherwise assist
     any other institution or person in carrying out research in
     marine science;
 
(e) to collect and disseminate information relating to marine 
    science and, in particular, to publish reports, periodicals and
    other papers relating to marine science;  and
 
(f) to do anything incidental or conducive to the performance of any
    of the foregoing functions (2).
 
The Interim Council was to make recommendations to the Minister on the following matters:

(a) the functions and powers of the Institute;
(b) the constitution of the Council;
(c) the site of the seat of the Institute;
(d) co-operation of the Institute with the University that is to be
    known as the James Cook University of North Queensland and
(e) to furnish to the Minister estimates of the capital and
    recurrent costs of the Institute. (3)
 
The 1972 Act also provided for a Council to be set up to replace the Interim Council established by the 1970 Act. The Chairman and Members of the Council were appointed by the Governor-General in Council for varying periods, commencing on 1 July 1972 (Ex Min No 31) (4).
 
The membership of the Council (with tenure of office shown against each name) was as follows:

 Sir Henry Bastin, CMG (Chairman): 5 years
 Dr K J C Back: 3 years
 Dr M F C Day, FAA: 3 years
 Professor A R Main, FAA: 5 years
 Professor B R Morton: 5 years (5)
 
The members of the Council as at 1988 (with tenure of office shown against each name) were as follows:

 Dr John L Farrands, CB (Chairman): 8 years (1982-1990)
 Professor K J C Back, AO,: 12 years (1972-1981) (1985-1988)
 Emeritus Professor N F Millis, MBE: 3 years (1987-1990) 
 Dr R K Steedman, FTS: 3 years (1982-1985)
 Associate Professor P M Stevenson: 3 years (1984-1987) 
 Dr J T Baker (Member ex officio): Director AIMS
 
The appointment of Professor J A Allen as the new Chairman of the Council was announced on 21 June 1977. Sir Henry Bastin retired on 30 June 1977 (6). Dr. John Farrands was appointed to replace Professor J A Allen in 1982 for the period until 1987. He was then re-appointed for a further term from 1987 to 30 June 1990.
 
On 22 January 1974 the Executive Council appointed Dr M Gilmartin as Director of the Institute from 15 July 1974 for a period of seven years. In May 1978 Dr Gilmartin resigned and was replaced on 19 September by Dr John Bunt. The Council of the Institute, after consultation with Dr Gilmartin decided that the first research teams to be appointed should be concerned with:

 (a) the morphology of the Great Barrier Reef
 (b) inshore ecology and productivity
 (c) marine pollution.
 
In April 1974, advertisements were published in Australia and abroad seeking applicants for the position of leader in each of these fields. At the same time, advertisements were published in
Australia and abroad seeking applicants for the position of
Librarian/Information Officer. The Council also recognised the need to establish a sound administrative structure to assist the Director and the scientists. The position of Secretary was advertised in January and was filled in April 1974 by Dr C E Melville. Five other appointments in the administrative area were made before the end of 1974 (7).
 
In 1977 the Institute moved from Cape Pallarenda to their headquarters at Cape Ferguson which contain modern shore-based laboratory facilities.
 
A new marine science research vessel, the RV 'Lady Basten' was commissioned on 3 November 1978.  The purpose of the new vessel is to conduct major sea going investigations throughout the Great Barrier Reef, the adjacent coast and surrounding waters (8).
 

References
  
1. Australian Institute of Marine Science Act, 1970; Australian
   Institute of Marine Science Act, 1972, Section 7(1) 
2. Ibid; Commonwealth Government Directory 1977, p 245
3. Australian Institute of Marine Science Act, 1970, Section 7(1) 
4. Commonwealth Gazette, No 57, 6 July 1972, p 23
5. Ibid; Commonwealth Government Directory 1977, p 245
   Australian Institute of Marine Science, Report for Year 1973-74,
   Parliamentary Papers 242/74, p vi
6. Canberra Times, 22 June 1977
7. Report, op cit, pp 2-3
8. The Australian, 6 November 1978, p 7

1970-1977: Cape Pallaranda, Townsville, Qld
1977-    : Cape Ferguson, Townsville, Qld

Creation: Commonwealth of Australia Acts, No. 19 of 1970,
Australian Institute of Marine Science Act 1970; No. 55 of 1972,
Australian Institute of Marine Science Act 1972

Agency controlled unregistered

Interim Council of the Australian Institute of Marine Science
Council of the Australian Institute of Marine Science