Institute of Marine Research (IMR)

IMR is Norway’s largest centre of marine science. The main task of IMR is to provide advice to Norwegian authorities on aquaculture and the ecosystems of the Barents Sea, the Norwegian Sea, the North Sea, and the Norwegian coastal zone, where IMR conducts regular research cruises. Fish stocks and the Barents Sea ecosystem have enjoyed the highest priority among the activities of IMR for several decades. IMR will make a significant contribution to Arctic ROOS by long-term monitoring of hydrography, ecosystems, and fish stocks in the Arctic and sub-Arctic seas. IMR has carried out regular surveys of pollution in the Barents Sea since the 1960s, focusing on non-biodegradable environmental toxins, mercury, and radioactivity.