The Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries in Split

Abstract

The research work is carried out by five laboratories covering the areas of marine physics, marine chemistry, marine biology, ichthyology and fisheries, and mariculture. The laboratory for marine physics carries out the research of the various aspects of seawater dynamics: currents, waves, and water-mass movements. Other physical properties of the sea, such as thermodynamics, optics and sea bed properties are also studied. The activity of the laboratory for marine chemistry is oriented around the research of basic hydrographic properties of the seawater: temperature, salinity, density, oxygen content, nutr ient salts and heavy metals. The marine biological laboratory carries out research deal ing with the structure and dynamics of planktonic and benthic communities. This research includes phytoplankton and primary production, zooplankton, bacter ioplankton and phytoand zoobenthos. The laboratory for ichthyology conducts research deal ing with the structure and dynamics of pelagic and benthic fish species, in addition to ichthyoplankton. Different aspects of fisheries improvement, e.g. fishing technology, are also investigated. The mariculture laboratory studies the possibilities for optimal artificial fish rearing, particularly those deal ing with different development stages. The present staff of the Institute consists of 82 members: 42 scientists, of which 17 PhD's, 22 MSc's and 7 undergradua tes with BSc degrees are represented. Eleven technicians are employed in the laboratories. The rest are employees engaged in administrative jobs. Over the 60year history of the Institute, the scientists have publ ished about 1500 papers in both domestic and foreign journals.