Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology (LIAE) is a research institute, an Agency of Daugavpils University. Originally dedicated to basic and applied research of ecology and environmental problems in the Baltic Sea, LIAE has become the leading institution in the environmental expertise for marine and freshwater issues in Latvia. In the Latvian part of the Gulf of Riga and Baltic Proper LIAE is responsible for marine environmental monitoring. Recently LIAE has contributed with its knowledge on ecosystem values and services to national maritime spatial plan, to implementation of Ballast water convention with information on invasive species and have pioneered in microplastic research of Latvia.