The Division of Oceanography forms part of the CSIRO Institute of Natural Resources and Environment and was created with the abolition of the former Division of Fisheries and Oceanography and the creation of two new Divisions, the Division of Fisheries Research and the Division of Oceanography.  Dr Angus McEwan was appointed first chief of the new Division in March 1981.
 
The Division plays a vital role in many areas of research both  internal and on projects linked to other other organisations at state, national and international level.
 
The Australian fisheries and aquaculture industries are heavily reliant on research undertaken by the Division.
 
Some areas in which the Divisionhas been involved in research include:
study of the ocean's role in climate variability and change;
study of the Southern Ocean;
studies of  key Australian estuarine and coastal zones including    monitoring of the Derwent River;
tracing the carboc cycle in the marine environment; and
ocean studies in relation to the cause and frequency of the EL Nino effect.

As part of a rationalisation process to reduce the number of Divisions and Units in the CSIRO framework, the Division of Oceanography was amalgamated with the Division of Fisheries and resulted in the creation of the new Division of Marine Research on 1 February 1997.

Sources:
Mercury Newspaper, 15 July 1993
Evolution of the CSIRO 1926-1991
CSIRO at Sea - 50 Years of Marine Science
CSIRO Annual Report 1996-97 (Commonwealth Parliamentary Paper no. 217 of 1997) 

Historical agency address
1981-1983: 202 Nicholson Parade, Cronulla, NSW
1983-1984: Reserve Bank Building, Macquarie Street, Hobart
1984-1997: Marine Laboratories, Castray Esplanade, Hobart