The IMarEST was granted Observer status as an international non-governmental organization (INGO) at the London Convention & Protocol (in full: 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 1972) in October 2015.

Dr Natalia Martini, Senior Technical Adviser at the IMarEST, commented “Receiving Observer status is an extremely important development for the IMarEST will enable the Institute to provide a valuable contribution to the scientific evaluation of waste disposal at sea proposed for dumping (e.g. dredged material), including monitoring and assessment of waste disposal options.

Moreover, as the London Convention and its Protocol are expanding their scope, the Institute will be able to provide a valuable contribution to emerging scientific and regulatory issues related to carbon capture and sequestration in sub-sea geological formations, marine geoengineering such as ocean fertilization, as well as at sea disposal of submarine mine tailings.”

The London Convention, or the "Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 1972", is one of the first global conventions to protect the marine environment from human activities and has been in force since 1975. Its objective is to promote the effective control of all sources of marine pollution and to take all practicable steps to prevent pollution of the sea by dumping of wastes and other matter. Currently, 87 States are Parties to this Convention.

In 1996, the "London Protocol" was agreed to further modernize the Convention and, eventually, replace it. Under the Protocol all dumping is prohibited, except for possibly acceptable wastes on the so-called "reverse list". The Protocol entered into force on 24 March 2006 and there are currently 45 Parties to the Protocol.