WAMS aims to be a global network uniting the existing marine stations, and their regional networks, and create opportunities for expanded collaborations all over the world.
WAMS endeavors capacity building activities, education and training, as well as data exchanges essential to a broad range of basic sciences, on both non-living and living systems and resources, marine biodiversity and ecosystem function, long-term observation of climate change, and to contribute to the improvement of the public image of the role played by marine stations in research.
WAMS offers its members a unique global network and a platform to meet, communicate and exchange information, and thereby aims to initiate, facilitate and promote ideas and projects that are of interest to the long-term sustainable development of excellence in marine research, education and training, networking and capacity building.

Specific objectives of the World Association of Marine Stations (WAMS) are:

• To organize meetings and workshops which facilitate legitimate networking between the constituent marine stations and institutes, in their recognized domains of excellence in research, education, training, public outreach, and capacity building;
• To stimulate, design, coordinate or participate in the implementation of international interdisciplinary programmes;
• To encourage the strengthening of human and physical scientific resources, world-wide, with particular emphasis on the developing world;
• To open debate regarding the long-term sustainable development of the oceans and coastal/regional seas;
• To create regional baselines in biodiversity and ecosystem health;
• Harmonize the global information on biodiversity needed for international conventions (e.g. CBD) and Platforms (e.g. IPBES).

To that effect WAMS has the capacity to offer and provide the logistics for:

• A quality platform to meet, communicate and exchange information. This is implemented via:
  • The WAMS Annual Meeting organized for WAMS members;
  • The organization of seminars, round table sessions, working groups, think tanks and such other activities as decided upon by the WAMS Board and organized for WAMS members and stakeholders.
• A platform for communication, exchange of information as well as transfer of knowledge between members and stakeholders. WAMS in this connection works on increasing its visibility via the web, cooperation with the press, newsletters, publications and other communication tools.
• A huge global network of marine ecosystems connecting members and stakeholders. Marine ecosystems are centrally important to the biology of the planet, yet a comprehensive understanding of how anthropogenic climate change is affecting them has been poorly developed. Further change will continue to create enormous challenges and costs for societies worldwide, particularly those in developing countries.