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Southern Regional Centre of Fisheries Research (IPIMAR)

Within the framework of the recent restructuring of the State Laboratories, IPIMAR was included in the new National Laboratory of Biological Resources (LNRB).

The Southern Regional Centre of Fisheries Research (IPIMAR Regional Services) is active in the area located between River Mira and the mouth of River Guadiana. It ensures fisheries research and the technical support to fish industries and fisheries sector of the region. Its activity is primarily addressed to the following areas: Small Scale Fishing/Planning of Coastal Fisheries; Fisheries-Environment-Production systems interaction; Fish Farming. Of the several projects in progress, we can highlight the implant of a rock system in the oceanic coastal zone of the Algarve, the Fish Farming Pilot Facility and offshore fish farming (offshore cage).

University of Algarve (Gambelas Campus, Faro)

The University of Algarve, created 27 years ago, is one of the national reference points for the teaching and R&D of Sea Sciences. Its scientific research activities are essentially covered by three R&D units – the Centre for Sciences of the Sea (CCMAR), the Centre for Maritime and Environmental Research (CIMA), and the SipLAB / Algarve.

CCMAR is a research unit with 150 researchers dedicated to R&D in Biotechnology, Fish Farming and Live Resources. CCMAR includes, together with CIIMAR of Porto University, the Associate Laboratory CIMAR (the largest national R&D unit).

CIMA is an R&D unit dedicated to projects in such important areas as the reconstruction of the evolution of the average sea level in the last 125,000 years, the preparation of numerical model d, and propagation of tsunami in the Algarve coastal zone, and the development of methodologies for the mapping of the environmental risk in the coastal zones. CIMA has received, in the last external assessments, a “Very Good” classification.

The Laboratory for Signals Processing (SiPLAB) of Algarve University participates, together with the Group of Oceanic Robotics of the College of Engineering of Lisbon University, in projects for the application of acoustics in oceanic exploration.

Algarve Live Science Centre

The Algarve Live Science Centre, located in Faro, was opened to the public in August 1997 and was the first Live Science Centre to be set up in Portugal with the aim to drive the disclosure of scientific and technological culture away from the large urban centres. The management of this Centre is entrusted to the Association of the Algarve centre for Live Science, members of which are ANCCT – Live Science, the University of the Algarve, the Coordinating Committee for the Regional Development of the Algarve, the Algarve Regional Department of Education, the Municipality of Faro, the Municipality of Albufeira and the enterprise Rolear.

Located off Ria Formosa, the Algarve Live Science Centre has on show, since June 8, 2006, a standing exhibition dedicated to the “SEA”. The exhibition is comprehensive, embracing areas from the Evolution of the Oceans, to Biodiversity, Physics of the Sea, Environment and even the economic aspects of human activity on the Sea.

Sines Port Authority (APS)

The turnover of APS reached 34.2 million euros in 2006, a 13% growth on 2005. These results were based on a movement of goods in the Port of Sines which reached for the second consecutive year a new historical maximum of 27.2 million tonnes, 9% above that of the previous year. This was the result of traditional port traffic related to the energy component and to the large growth of container cargo in Terminal XXI.

An objective was set to, on the one hand, assert Sines as a deep water port capable of standing out in the Iberian and European context and, on the other, place it as a point of reference in the national logistic system, through the development of the Sines port platform and the connections to the Poceirão national urban platform and to the Elvas/Caia border platform. The following operational targets were set for the Port of Sines until 2015: Growth in movement of goods: 102%; Growth in the Average Rate of Use of the port facilities: 25%; Growth in the total number of vessels in the Port: 205%.

APS has in progress several projects in technological partnership, specifically with Évora University and with the College of Engineering of Lisbon University (MARPOR project).

Department of Oceanography and Fisheries of the Azores University (DOP/UAç - Horta)

The experience of the team of the DOP/UAç covers a great number of areas in the field of marine science, such as Marine Ecology and Biodiversity, Physical and Biological Oceanography, and Assessment of Pelagic, Demersal and Depth Fishing Resources.

DOP/UAç has been targeted for internationalization and is experienced in the international coordination of scientific projects and cruises. With the recent acquisition of two research vessels “ARQUIPÉLAGO” and “ÁGUAS VIVAS”, the activities of the team and the experience obtained with them have been largely benefited. Cruises for fishing biology, oceanography, ecology, and biodiversity studies are now possible and have strongly contributed to increase the field performance of this team. The total number and diversity of the projects in progress or recently approved are a fair indication of the experience and capability of this team.

Hydrographical Institute and Oceanographic Vessels (“Almirante Gago Coutinho” and “D. Carlos I”)

The Hydrographical Institute (IH) is a State Laboratory dedicated, under the aegis of the Navy, to R&D on sea sciences, safety in navigation and protection of the marine environment. The merits of the activities of IH have been nationally and internationally recognized. It is worth while recalling its decisive actions in the context of the accident with the bridge at Entre-os-Rios and the Prestige shipwreck.

IH has in its service two oceanographic vessels: the “Almirante Gago Coutinho” and the “D.Carlos I”. Equipped with Multibeam Sonar Systems, Acoustic Current Profilers and Multiparameter Sounders, these oceanographic vessels enable R&D in hydrography, nautical mapping, physical oceanography of marine geology and chemical oceanography. These vessels are currently taking part in hydrographical surveys with the use of the multibeam sonar system, which are indispensable to present the proposal for the extension of the continental shelf beyond the 200 miles. This proposal will have to be submitted by Portugal, within the Framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, until May, 2009.

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