Focusing on the national development strategies, the State Planning Commission (SPC), predecessor of National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), launched the project on the construction of the state key laboratories in 1984, with the aim of strengthening the S&T resources reserve and enhancing the original innovation ability. In November 1984, IHB integrated 25 researchers and technical staff from its three centers – Center for Freshwater, Center for Fish Genetic Breeding and Center for Environmental Biology, and by centralized facilities management, established the Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology (LFEB).

The LFEB was constructed with a capital expenditure of 5.5 million yuan ($0.78 million) from the SPC in April 1987 and passed the expert panel assessment organized by the CAS in August 1987. It officially opened in October 1989 with the name of “Open Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology”.  

The Lab was renamed as the “State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology” in 1993 when it was evaluated as Good Laboratory by the expert panel from the SPC. Prof. LIU Jiankang (CAS member) served as the first director of the Lab and Prof. LI Shanghao (CAS member) served as the first chairman of the academic committee of the Lab. 

The Lab was evaluated as Excellent Laboratory for three consecutive times in 1996, 2001 and 2006, respectively. In 2011, it was exempt from appraisal and ranked as Excellent again. The Lab entered the pilot project of the CAS Knowledge Innovation Program in 1999, and won the best team awards of the State Key Laboratory Program and the National “11^th Five-Year Plan” for S&T Research Program in 2004 and 2011, respectively. In May 2015, IHB, the supporting institution of the Lab, was recognized as an institute featuring ecological civilization by CAS Pioneer Initiative. 

 “Openness, mobility, unity and competition” are the operating mechanisms observed by the Lab. Supported by IHB, the Lab aims to reveal the laws governing life activities in freshwater ecosystem, discuss the biological theories and technologies of freshwater and its biological resources utilization, and develop the fundamental and applied studies related to fishery and environment. Gearing its research to the state’s strategic demands and the world scientific frontiers, the Lab will establish itself as the base for research innovation and S&T talents cultivation and play a significant role in the international academic community. 

Director:  YIN Zhan     
Deputy Directors: HU Wei  XIE Shouqi  XU Xudong  XIE Ping  WU Zhenbin  SHU Shaowu 
Chairman of Academic Committee: GUI Jianfang