The Marine research Institute (Hafrannsóknastofnunin)

Web site: www.hafro.is

The Marine Research Institute (MRI) was established in 1965, but the history of marine research in Iceland dates back more than a century. The role of the MRI is: to acquire knowledge of the marine environment around Iceland and its living resources to provide advice to the government on catch levels and conservation measures to inform the government, the fishery sector and the public about the marine environment and its living resources MRI undertakes research into marine climate and environmental monitoring, marine geology and bottom topography, plankton distribution and production, reproduction and recruitment, assessment of fish stocks, multi-species interactions, marine mammals, fishing gear, fishing impact on the ecosystem, and potentially exploitable species.

MRI is organized into three main research sections.

• The Marine Environment Section deals with environmental conditions, geology, and the ecology of algae, zooplankton, fish larvae and benthos.
• The Marine Resources Section undertakes research on the exploited stocks of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and marine mammals.
• The Fisheries Advisory Section scrutinizes stock assessments and prepares formal advice on the total allowable catch (TAC) and sustainable fishing strategies for the government. The three sections work in close co-operation and also they make use of the work carried out by the Electronic Department and the services provided by the Fisheries Library. MRI has an experimental mariculture station and operates five branch laboratories in fishing communities in different parts of Iceland.

Two ocean-going research vessels are currently operated by MRI.

MRI co-operates with the universities in Iceland and students undertake practical training and carry out research projects at the Institute.

Furthermore, the United Nations University Fisheries Training Program is operated under the supervision of MRI. MRI also co-operates with many foreign institutions and international organizations and has through the years been involved in many international projects in the fields of marine sciences.

MRI is an active participant in the work of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and its advisory Committee on Fisheries Management. The stock assessment findings of the MRI are subject to review by ICES before the TAC recommendations are made. The MRI is also represented in several other organizations, such as:the Northeast Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO) and the International Whaling Commission (IWC).