Atlantic coastal ocean observing and validation hub: biodiversity, sensors, vessels, experimental platforms and real-time data

The Marine Research Centre (CIM) of the University of Vigo is a CIGUS Centre of Excellence and a leading interdisciplinary hub for marine and aquatic sciences in the European Atlantic area. CIM combines expertise in biological and physical oceanography, marine biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, climate-change impacts, pollution, ocean observation, modelling and data analysis with advanced infrastructure for in-situ monitoring, experimentation and technology validation. This combination makes CIM a strong potential partner for HORIZON-NATURE-2027-04-01, particularly as an Atlantic coastal observation, testing and validation node contributing to the strengthening of the Global Ocean Observing System.

CIM's main marine research infrastructure, the Toralla Marine Science Station (ECIMAT), is integrated into EMBRC-ERIC and provides direct access to the Ría de Vigo and neighbouring Atlantic coastal ecosystems, together with oceanographic sampling services, marine biological resources, laboratories and experimental platforms. ECIMAT is complemented by the monitored experimental raft in the Ría de Aldán, equipped with advanced sensors and real-time data transmission, providing a unique platform for sustained in-situ observations, ecological monitoring and testing of marine technologies under real environmental conditions.

CIM also operates the B/O CIM-UVIGO, a plug-in hybrid oceanographic research vessel designed for multidisciplinary sampling and observation in coastal and continental-shelf waters. The vessel supports physical, chemical and biological observations, habitat and seabed mapping, deployment and recovery of oceanographic equipment and integration with autonomous systems. Together with CIM's smaller coastal vessels and future autonomous observing capabilities, these resources provide a flexible observation system spanning fixed platforms, mobile surveys and autonomous monitoring.

These capabilities could support several key objectives of the call, including validation and sustained deployment of ocean-observing technologies, integration of biological and ecosystem observations with physical and biogeochemical data, optimisation of observing strategies, interoperability and timely data delivery, and improved links between in-situ observations, remote sensing and modelling. CIM could also contribute to the development and testing of biodiversity-relevant observation approaches in productive Atlantic coastal systems, providing real-world validation sites for sensors, platforms and monitoring workflows before wider deployment.

CIM's mesocosm infrastructure adds a complementary experimental dimension. Located in an Atlantic upwelling system, the ECIMAT mesocosms reproduce pelagic and benthic conditions under controlled but environmentally realistic settings. This allows observation technologies, biodiversity indicators and ecological responses to be tested under known environmental conditions before field deployment, creating a direct bridge between experimental validation and real-world ocean observation.

Overall, CIM-UVigo could contribute to the consortium as an Atlantic coastal observing and validation partner, linking marine biodiversity expertise, sustained environmental observation, experimental infrastructure, vessels, sensors and data-oriented approaches. Its combination of ECIMAT-EMBRC, the monitored experimental raft, oceanographic vessels, mesocosms and access to highly productive Atlantic coastal ecosystems provides a valuable platform for testing, validating and operationalising ocean-observing technologies and workflows relevant to biodiversity, climate resilience and long-term GOOS capabilities.