Spanish Institute of Oceanography:
The Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO ) is a public research organization dedicated to research in marine science, especially in relation to scientific knowledge of the oceans, the sustainability of fishery resources and marine environment. The IEO is under the Ministry of Science and Innovation, through the Secretary of State for Research.
The IEO is not limited to conduct basic and applied research, but also advices scientific and technologically to government on issues related to oceanography and marine sciences. It is the researcher and advisory organization for fisheries policy of the Spanish government. In addition , it is the scientific and technology representative of Spain in most international forums and organizations related to the sea and its resources.
It has its headquarters in Madrid and nine coastal oceanographic centers , among which are the Oceanographic Centre of Vigo and the Oceanographic Centre of Santander.
The Oceanographic Centre of Vigo is constituted by three research areas: Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine environment. The Fisheries area has as objective the knowledge of fisheries of interest , or potential interest, for the Spanish fleets. The study of exploited fisheries requires deep knowledge of the biology of the species caught, of fishing catches on these species and the determination of the abundance of the species of interest, either through data coming from fisheries or fisheries independent data (research surveys). In addition, the IEO also studies the relationships of fisheries with environmental conditions and ecosystem status. These tasks allow, among other things , periodic evaluation of populations, stock assessment and management strategy evaluations which serves to the Spanish and EU government as scientific basis to take management decisions.
The Oceanographic Centre of Vigo, in conjunction with the Institute of Marine Research of Vigo (IIM-CSIC), the Fisheries Technological Institute of the Basque Country (AZTI-Tecnalia) and the Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere ( IPMA ) have been the institutions involved in the annual EU fisheries survey conducted in Flemish Cap in the month of June since 1988 (AZTI-Tecnalia up to 2008).
Oceanographic Centre of Vigo
The Oceanographic Centre of Vigo is collaborating with GADCAP project at two different levels. It is providing, in conjunction with the above mentioned institutions, basic data and information for multispecies modelling from the annual EU survey. In adition, the Oceanographic Centre of Vigo is proportioning also information about the spanish fleet in the Flemish Cap from scientic observers onboard of commercial vessels. Furthermore, with their experienced, Fernando González and Diana González, the EU scientist in charge of the monospecific stock assessment for Flemish Cap cod, and Mikel Casas, the EU scientist responsible stock assessment of shrimp will contribute very importantly to the development of GADCAP during the short stays that are programmed in the Oceanographic Centre of Vigo across 2014 and 2015.
Fernando González (left) and Mikel Casas (right)
Oceanographic Centre of Santander:
The Oceanographic Centre of Santander, belongs to the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO). After nearly 120 years since its founding (originally as a Biological Station) still satisfy the main purpose for which it was created: the teaching of marine fauna and flora, for which fellows and trainees are instructed by appropriate programs, and the application of knowledge to the development of marine industries. The latter is done with the advice on the possibilities of sustainable exploitation of exploited fish species and providing information on techniques to improve and increase production to an already thriving marine farming industry.
Oceanographic Centre of Santander
Enrique Rodríguez Marín is research scientist at the Fisheries Area of the Oceanographic Centre of Santander and collaborates with GADCAP by providing information about the tagging experiment and feeding habits of cod in the Flemish Cap in february of 1992.
Enrique Rodríguez Marín
GADCAP 