• The infrastructure sites
  • Tjärnö
  • Kristineberg
  • Dunstaffnage
  • Roscoff
  • Banyuls
  • Naples
  • Faro
  • Eilat
  • Las Cruces
• Access rules
• Calls and selection
• Follow-up
• Application Forms
• Selected projects and resulting achievements

Algarve Marine Sciences Centre - Faro

The Algarve Marine Sciences Centre (CCMAR) in Faro is an independent multidisciplinary, non-profit research organization with competence in a range of areas of marine biology, fisheries and aquaculture.

Its mission is to promote research and education on processes in the marine environment, with an emphasis on biological interactions and the sustainable use of resources. It is part of CIMAR, a consortium of two research institutes with recognized excellence status in Portugal and also part of the University of Algarve.

CCMAR is located next to the Ria Formosa, a unique coastal ecosystem with very high biodiversity and an ideal natural laboratory. It is a mesotidal lagoon, separated from the ocean by a system of barrier islands and inlets, which extends for about 55 km along the south coast of Portugal. This includes extensive mud flats, sand banks, dune systems, salt marshes and substantial sea grass beds. It is a natural park protected by national legislation and nature conservation regulations and most of it is of international importance. The average water depth is less than 2 m and the tidal height ranges from a maximum of 3.7 m in spring tides to a minimum of 0.4 m in neap tides. Ria Formosa is a highly productive coastal lagoon, supporting an intense mollusc fishery and is an important nursery ground. Salinity ranges between 35 and 37ppt except during short periods following heavy rainfall when surface water salinity may be as low as 15ppt. Water temperature varies between 12ºC in winter and 27ºC in the summer. It is directly accessible on foot or with small boats, making it an ideal natural laboratory.

The Ramalhete Marine Station is a versatile infrastructure that includes smaller tanks to large outdoor mesocosms. It is located adjacent to one of the main channels of Ria Formosa, close to Faro international airport, 8km from the city and 4 km from the University of Algarve campus. It consists of 4 hectares of a salt pan and marsh system, 500 m² of indoor tank facilities with installations for phyto- and zooplankton culture, isolated rooms for studies that require environmental control or behaviour, wet and dry laboratories. It receives water directly from the Ria Formosa and well water is used to regulate salinity. A 900 m² outdoor area is used for larger volume tanks and other needs.

Installations to which access is offered

• Laboratories: laboratories at the Gambelas Campus, University of Algarve, with access to basic research equipment, administrative and technical support.
• Small vessels: 8.3 m R/V Pagrus fully equipped for research in the coastal zone allowing basic oceanographic work, fishing, acoustic telemetry studies, diving platform allowing underwater surveys. Smaller boats are available.
• Aquarium facilities: indoor and outdoor tanks for experiments with marine invertebrates, algae and fish at the Ramalhete station
• Platforms: access to bioresources platform consisting of equipment and support from technical staff: molecular biology, chemistry, imaging, behaviour analysis.

Application form here.

Contact

Web site: http://ccmar.ualg.pt

Contact person: Ana Amaral (amamaral@ualg.pt)