The Marine Ecology Research Institute (MERI) was established in December of 1975 as an incorporated foundation under the joint jurisdiction of the then Environment Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry; its aim was to carry out scientific research on the impact of power plant cooling water intake and discharge on marine organisms and their environment. Subsequently, on 1 April 2012, the institute became a public interest incorporated foundation.
