About IIM

The Institute of Marine Research (IIM-CSIC) is one of the main marine research centers in the Iberian Peninsula. Looking at the Atlantic from Vigo, a city with a strong connection with the sea, the IIM-CSIC faces the challenge of increasing our knowledge about the ocean, from its physical characteristics to the food we take from it and the processes that bind the whole system together.

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Research

Research is at the core of the Institute of Marine Research's work. Working along 3 Core Research Themes, which intertwine and connect to each other, the researchers and technicians at the IIM-CSIC look for answers within 9 different research lines.

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Innovation

While our research provides us with new knowledge about our sea and shores, at the Institute of Marine Research we are committed to go a step further, creating new collaborations with the industry and other economic activities, be they already 'established' industries, such as fisheries or aquaculture, or 'emerging' ones, such as ocean observation.

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Society

Science is not complete until it is shared with society. As a public research institution, the IIM understands that its commitment is with society, fostering a two-way relationship with its surrounding community and an open perspective on science.

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Work & Study

Marine scientists, lab technicians, biologists, chemists and engineers, but also economists, lawyers or communicators (both working and in training) contribute to the interdisciplinary nature of our center. With more than 200 employees, the IIM-CSIC is a large community of people who work together for the sake of science, knowledge and sustainability.

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News & Events

Do you want to be aware of the latest at the IIM? The Institute has a whole team involved in communication & outreach, sharing all news that arise and organizing events to reach all sectors of society: from other peers working in science to children in schools or our neighbors from Vigo.

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Marine Life and Ecosystems

Fisheries

Fish and fishery products remain among the most commonly traded food commodities in the world. That translates into more than 80 million tons of global marine catches and 39 million jobs in fisheries around the world. 

At a local scale, the fishing activity in Galicia has a strong, centuries-old tradition, while from a socio-economic perspective, Galicia accounts for around 43% of the number of vessels and nearly 40% of the number of fishing-related jobs in Spain, with landings exceeding 150,000 tons in 2019 and reaching a value over 470 million euros (pescadegalicia.org). 

Nonetheless, unsustainable fisheries have been steadily increasing since the 1970s, although the rate is slowing down. Regulations to adjust fish catches to the Maximum Sustainable Yield or the recently established landing obligation are measures that attempt to increase the abundance and health of fish stocks and ensure the sustainability of fishing.

Sustainable fisheries require innovations to reduce operational costs and improve revenues without damaging stocks. The IIM-CSIC has a long tradition of collaboration with the fisheries industry at different levels to help it adapt to these new challenges

You can read about all our capabilities and associated services below.

 

Research groups

Capabilities

  • Software | GOVOCITOS
    Fisheries

    Govocitos is a free image analysis software that allows for easy and accurate determination of reproductive parameters in fish based on histological images. Although designed to estimate fish fertility, its applications are expandable to other counting, measurement and classification problems (i.e. pollen count, oncology and cytology, etc.).

    More information here.

    Related research groups

    Integrated marine ecology
  • Capabilities | Definition and description of marine ecosystems
    Fisheries Aquaculture Ecosystem Services & Governance Coastal & Environmental Protection Maritime Spatial Planning

    The definition and description of ecosystems involving marine resources, in terms of scale, extent, structure, and functioning. This includes characterizing the spatial, structural, and functional aspects of marine-coastal ecosystems as basic units for environmental land-use planning.

    Related research groups

    Integrated marine ecology
  • Trademark | Smart Fip: 100% sustainable, 0% waste fisheries
    Fisheries Nutrition and Human Health

    Smart Fip is a trademark that certifies the application of a private voluntary control system on parasitic risk assessment for fishery products along the entire value chain. Smart Fip is a cognitive predictive inspection protocol based on a set of international standards, scientific-technical protocols and unique tools that allow for the digital transformation of the inspection system. These protocols and diagnostic techniques are based on the European biobank of samples and marine molecules from parasites of biotechnological interest available to the IIM-CSIC. By accepting the regulations for the use of the brand, companies implement a reliable inspection and categorization system for flexible decision-making, which allows applying technical solutions at different steps and reducing food waste throughout the whole process.

    Related research groups

    Marine ecology and biodiversity
  • Capabilities | Development of new food products from fisheries and aquaculture by-products
    Fisheries Aquaculture Biotechnology Food industry 4.0 Nutrition and Human Health

    Development of processes for the transformation of discards and seafood by-products into new raw materials (fish mince, fish oil, etc.) with added value for the generation of innovative processed food products (hamburgers, nuggets, etc.), ensuring traceability, nutritional value and safety in new value chains.

    Related research groups

    Food Biochemistry Recycling and Valorization of Waste Materials Biosystem & Bioprocesses Engineering Microbiology & Technology of Marine Products
  • Capabilities | Development of bioprocesses (biorefineries) for the extraction of bioproducts and bioactive compounds from food industry by-products
    Fisheries Aquaculture Biotechnology Food industry 4.0 Nutrition and Human Health

    Development of processes that allow extracting useful components of industrial interest from discards and food industry by-products and effluents. Biochemical characterization of useful components present in different kinds of fisheries products and by-products, such as skin collagen, visceral enzymes, chondroitin sulphate present in cartilage, chitin from crustacean shells and cuttlebone or protein hydrolysates obtained from muscle. Evaluation of potential applications of these compounds through the characterization of their biological activities (antioxidants, etc.) and functional properties for their use in different industries, such as biomedical, chemistry, cosmetic, food, etc.

    Related research groups

    Food Biochemistry Recycling and Valorization of Waste Materials Biosystem & Bioprocesses Engineering

Services

Active projects