The Vantuna Research Group has been monitoring and researching the marine environment of Southern and Baja California since 1966.

The R/V Vantuna was donated to the college by Gilbert Van Camp, an alumnus and fisherman. The vessel was converted from a tuna fishing boat to an oceanographic vessel using funds from an NSF grant in 1971, and was operated without government support until the donation of the vessel to SCMI in 2004.

The VRG was developed by then-director (and current Executive Director) Dr. John Stephens in 1974 as a marine environmental consulting unit of Occidental College, primarily with support from Southern California Edison which was interested in the effect of their coastal power plants on marine fishes.

Thoughout the last 35 years, the personel and equipment at the VRG has changed, but the program's goals remain the same. Please click on the links to the left to learn more about the Vantuna Research Group at Occidental College.