The Spanish Institute of Oceanography was created by Royal Decree of April 17, 1914, is a public research organization (OPI) dedicated to research in marine science, especially in relation to scientific knowledge of the oceans, sustainability of fishing resources and the marine environment. The IEO depends on the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, through the General Secretariat.
The IEO is not limited to carrying out basic and applied research, it also provides scientific and technological advice to administrations in matters related to oceanography and marine sciences. In fact, according to the Marine Fisheries Act of 2001, the IEO is the investigative and advisory body for the fisheries sector policy of the Government. In addition, he is the scientific and technological representative of Spain in most international forums and organizations related to the sea and its resources.
The IEO is an autonomous body, with its own legal personality and assets, with an approximate workforce of 700 people -of which 80% is research staff and research support-.
The budget of the IEO exceeds 65 million euros and has a wide geographical coverage and important facilities. It has a central office in Madrid and nine coastal oceanographic centers: A Coruña, Baleares (Palma de Mallorca), Cádiz, Canary Islands (Santa Cruz de Tenerife), Gijón, Málaga (Fuengirola), Murcia (San Pedro del Pinatar), Santander and Vigo five plants of experimentation of marine cultures; twelve gauge stations and one satellite image receiving station. Its oceanographic fleet, with more than twenty vessels, has five important oceanographic vessels, among which the 46 m twin vessels stand out. Ramón Margalef and Ángeles Alvariño.
The Spanish Institute of Oceanography performs basic and applied research in oceanography and marine sciences, as well as other services for scientific-technological development and maintenance of industrial, social and business activities, with the aim of increasing scientific knowledge of oceans and to make sustainable use of them.
