Centro Tecnolóxico do Mar

The Centro Tecnolóxico do Mar (CETMAR) is a Galician public-interest foundation dedicated to marine and fisheries research, technological innovation and international cooperation. It was created in 2001 on the initiative of the Consellería de Pesca e Asuntos Marítimos (the Galician regional ministry responsible for fisheries and maritime affairs), together with the Dirección Xeral de I+D+I of the Xunta de Galicia and Spain's Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. Its headquarters are in Bouzas, in the city of Vigo, on the Galician Atlantic coast, one of Europe's most important fishing and seafood hubs. CETMAR's stated mission is to improve the marine environment and the sectors that depend on it by fostering cooperation between institutions, research centres and the maritime-fishing sector. It promotes the involvement of sea-dependent industries in research, development and innovation activities and works to increase the efficiency of all activities related to the use and exploitation of the marine environment. Rather than operating as a conventional company, CETMAR functions as a technology centre and knowledge broker: it designs and manages projects, provides technical, economic and social studies, organises training and outreach, and connects research networks and platforms. The foundation is attached to the Consellería do Mar of the Xunta de Galicia and is governed by a Padroado (board of trustees). Its work spans eight broad areas of activity and, according to its own website, it has been involved in hundreds of R&D and cooperation projects with a large network of collaborators across dozens of countries. Its project portfolio covers fisheries science and management, aquaculture, marine environment and biodiversity, seafood safety and quality, marine litter, blue economy and international development cooperation. Internationally, CETMAR acts as a specialised consultant and partner in cooperation programmes, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean. Examples include the PreMiSa project on prevention and mitigation of sargassum influxes in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, financed by the Spanish Cooperation's ARAUCLIMA regional programme and coordinated by CIMAR at the University of Costa Rica, in which CETMAR provides expertise on Galician seaweed harvesting systems and technological innovation. CETMAR also participates in European projects on bycatch of threatened marine megafauna, such as REDUCE and LIFE CIBBRINA, and is helping to organise a major international forum on incidental capture of marine megafauna to be held in Santiago de Compostela in October 2027. As a public-interest foundation, CETMAR is not listed on any stock exchange and does not sell branded consumer products. Its "offer" consists of research and innovation services, technical reports, training, dissemination activities and project coordination for public administrations, research bodies, industry and civil society. Its brand identity is closely tied to Galicia's marine research and fisheries policy ecosystem.

CETMAR was constituted in 2001 as a fundación de interese galego (Galician public-interest foundation) on the initiative of the Consellería de Pesca e Asuntos Marítimos, the regional ministry then responsible for fisheries and maritime affairs, together with the Dirección Xeral de I+D+I of the Xunta de Galicia and Spain's Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. The foundation was attached to the fisheries ministry, reflecting the regional government's aim of creating a dedicated technology centre to support Galicia's large fishing, aquaculture and seafood industries. From its base in Bouzas, Vigo, CETMAR developed a model based on cooperation between public administrations, research centres and the maritime-fishing sector. Its founding objective was to improve the marine environment and the sectors that depend on it by encouraging those sectors to take part in research, development and innovation, and by making activities related to the use and exploitation of the sea more efficient. Over the years the centre built up a broad project portfolio and an international profile. Its website describes work across eight areas of activity and a network of collaborators in dozens of countries, with hundreds of R&D and cooperation projects. CETMAR has been particularly active in European research and innovation programmes and in Spanish development cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean. A representative recent example is the PreMiSa project, "Mechanisms for the Prevention and Mitigation of Sargassum Influxes in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic through the Strengthening of Governance and Research", financed by the Regional Programme on Environment and Climate Change of Spanish Cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean (ARAUCLIMA) and coordinated by the Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR) of the University of Costa Rica. CETMAR acts as a specialised consultant for activities in Galicia and on technological innovation. In 2026 it organised two exchanges of technical staff from the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Galicia, the first in May on analysis, treatment and valorisation of sargassum and the second from 31 August to 4 September on Galician seaweed harvesting systems. CETMAR also works on bycatch of threatened marine megafauna. It participates in European projects such as REDUCE and LIFE CIBBRINA through its Promotion and Technology Transfer area, and it is helping to organise the International Forum on Incidental Capture of Threatened Marine Megafauna, scheduled for 12–15 October 2027 at the City of Culture in Santiago de Compostela. The event is an initiative of a group of eight European projects and is described as the largest international conference ever held to advance solutions for bycatch, covering sharks, rays, sea turtles, seabirds and marine mammals. Governance is provided by a Padroado (board of trustees), and the foundation maintains public information on its organisation, staff directory, corporate identity, projects, publications, annual reports, contracting, job offers, tenders and transparency and open government. It also has an equality plan. As of the mid-2020s CETMAR remains an active public-interest foundation attached to the Consellería do Mar of the Xunta de Galicia.

• 2026

  CETMAR organises two exchanges of technical staff from the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Galicia within the PreMiSa project, on sargassum treatment and seaweed harvesting.

• 2001

  CETMAR is constituted as a Galician public-interest foundation on the initiative of the Consellería de Pesca e Asuntos Marítimos, the Dirección Xeral de I+D+I and the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.

• The International Forum on Incidental Capture of Threatened Marine Megafauna is scheduled for 12–15 October in Santiago de Compostela, with CETMAR participating in its organisation.

A public-interest marine technology foundation and knowledge broker connecting research, industry and policy for sustainable use of the sea.

• PreMiSa project

  Mechanisms for the Prevention and Mitigation of Sargassum Influxes in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic through the Strengthening of Governance and Research; financed by ARAUCLIMA and coordinated by CIMAR, University of Costa Rica, with CETMAR as specialised consultant.

• REDUCE and LIFE CIBBRINA

  European projects on bycatch of threatened marine megafauna in which CETMAR's Promotion and Technology Transfer area participates.

• International Forum on Incidental Capture of Threatened Marine Megafauna

  Major international conference to be held in Santiago de Compostela, 12–15 October 2027, organised by a group of eight European projects with CETMAR's collaboration.

1. 1Centro Tecnolóxico do Mar – Fundación CETMAR (official website)cetmar.org
2. 2Intercambio sobre a recolección de algas – Centro Tecnolóxico do Marcetmar.org
3. 3Foro Internacional sobre a Captura Incidental de Megafauna Mariña Ameazada – Centro Tecnolóxico do Marcetmar.org
4. 4Centro Tecnológico del Mar – Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5Centro Tecnolóxico do Mar – Wikipedia (Galician)gl.wikipedia.org