The Marine Biology Laboratory (LBM) is managed by a consortium comprised of the municipality and province of Trieste, and the universities of Trieste and Udine.

Through access to its research vessel, LBM conducts research on marine science in coastal and off-shore environments that focuses on biological oceanography, marine biogeochemistry and physical oceanography. LBM also provides a host of services designed to evaluate the environmental impacts of human activities.

Since the early 1970s, LBM has examined the causes of marine environmental degradation in the Adriatic Sea and monitored environmental conditions in the Gulf of Trieste.

Research projects are often conducted in collaboration with national and international research institutions.