In 1874, Alfred Giard founded a maritime zoological station in Wimereux. Although this station was destroyed during the Second World War, its legacy continues in Paris and on the Opal Coast.
In Paris, the  BCPR (Biology, Chemistry and Physics Research) Library keeps some of the documentary collections inherited from the old Wimereux station. This autumn, SorbonNum uploaded the Travaux de la station zoologique Wimereux (Works of the Wimereux zoological station).
In Wimereux and its surroundings, three sea science research centres are active today which are affiliated with the University of Lille, the University of the Littoral Opal Coast and the Ifremer. The 150 years of the Wimereux station were the opportunity for many events and publications. The exhibition,« Les stations marines de la Côte d’Opale, 150 ans d’histoire » (“150 years of history of the marine stations of the Opal Coast”), can be seen in Lille until 13 December (cf agenda culturel de l’université de Lille : cultural agenda of the University of Lille). It is completed by a virtual exhibition, « À la découverte des océans » (“Discovering the oceans”) which can be viewed on the portal of the Lillonum digital library, and by the publication of the book Les stations marines de la côte d’Opale (The marine stations of the Opal Coast) by the Presses du Septentrion.