“The opportunity to perform fieldwork in the Faial-Pico channel within the ASSEMBLE Plus scheme has been invaluable in developing research questions and future collaborations. The experience was made even better by the hospitality of staff members and crew at IMAR. I certainly hope to visit again soon!”  James Waggit, School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, UK

Far away from the Continental Europe, located over the Mid Atlantic Ridge, the Institute and the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries of the University of Azores, has a privileged access to diverse ecosystems and environments usually considered remote and of difficult access. Dedicated to R&D in marine sciences, we have been promoting multidisciplinary research focused on ecosystems functioning and management of open-ocean and deep-sea. Most biological and ecological research have targeted key deep-sea and pelagic taxa, including benthic invertebrates, soft-bodied animals, fishes and vulnerable megafauna (e.g. sharks, cetaceans, seabirds, sea-turtles, cold water corals, etc.).

The access to coastal, open-ocean and deep-sea ecosystems is facilitated by R/Vs “Arquipelago” and “Águas Vivas”, several RHIBs, a ROV and by diversified sampling equipment. To these we can add on land supporting facilities, such as a scuba diving unit, laboratorial units with running seawater as well as other well-equipped laboratories.

To find out more, visit the transnational access pages or contact assembleplus_ta@embrc.eu