Azores-based marine research institute specializing in Atlantic deep-sea ecosystems, ocean observation, mesopelagic resources, and fisheries science.
IMAR is a Portuguese marine research institute based in the Azores (Horta) specializing in Atlantic Ocean ecosystem science, deep-sea ecology, and ocean observation systems. They study marine biodiversity from surface to deep-sea environments, assess fish stocks and mesopelagic resources, and contribute to ocean monitoring through sensor networks and observing platforms. Their work directly supports EU marine spatial planning, fisheries management policy, and marine ecosystem restoration across the Atlantic basin.
Core contributor across ATLAS, iAtlantic, SponGES, MISSION ATLANTIC, SUMMER, and MEESO — all focused on Atlantic marine ecosystem mapping, biodiversity, and function from benthic to pelagic zones.
Active in AtlantOS (integrated Atlantic observing system), NAUTILOS (low-cost ocean observation tech), and EMSODEV (instrument module development for deep-sea observatories).
Central role in SUMMER and MEESO (mesopelagic biomass and fisheries sustainability), plus DiscardLess (discard elimination) and ATLAS (fisheries biogeography).
Contributed to MERCES (marine habitat restoration), SponGES (deep-sea sponge ground preservation), and iAtlantic (environmental status assessment and tipping points).
Participated in pp2EMBRC (European Marine Biological Resource Centre preparatory phase) and ASSEMBLE Plus (network of marine biological stations) as infrastructure provider.
Involved in MarineUAS training network on unmanned aerial systems for marine and coastal monitoring.
In 2015–2018, IMAR focused on building Atlantic ocean observation infrastructure, fisheries policy, and broad ecosystem mapping — projects like AtlantOS, ATLAS, and DiscardLess dealt with large-scale monitoring systems and policy-oriented fisheries science. From 2019 onward, their work shifted decisively toward deep-sea and mesopelagic ecology, with strong emphasis on biomass quantification, biodiversity under climate stress, ecosystem services valuation, and governance frameworks (iAtlantic, SUMMER, MEESO, MISSION ATLANTIC). The evolution shows a move from observation infrastructure toward applied ecological assessment and resource sustainability.
IMAR is moving toward mesopelagic resource science and climate-biodiversity interactions — expect them to be a key partner in future Atlantic sustainability and blue economy projects.
IMAR operates exclusively as a consortium partner or third party — they have never coordinated an H2020 project, which positions them as a reliable specialist contributor rather than a project leader. With 231 unique partners across 34 countries, they integrate into large multinational consortia (most of their projects involve 15+ partners). Their Azores location makes them a geographically strategic node for any Atlantic-focused research, offering unique access to mid-Atlantic deep-sea and pelagic environments.
Extensive European network spanning 231 unique consortium partners across 34 countries, built through large-scale Atlantic research consortia. Their geographic positioning in the Azores gives them particular connectivity to Atlantic-rim institutions in Portugal, UK, Ireland, Norway, Spain, and France.
IMAR's location in the Azores — a mid-Atlantic volcanic archipelago — gives them unmatched field access to deep-sea Atlantic ecosystems, seamounts, and hydrothermal environments that most European marine labs simply cannot reach. They combine this geographic advantage with strong expertise in both ocean observation technology and ecological assessment, making them a two-in-one partner for projects needing both data collection infrastructure and biological analysis. For any consortium focused on the Atlantic basin, IMAR brings both the scientific capability and the physical proximity to study sites.
