| Short Name: HAFRA |  |
| Country: Iceland |
Description
Hafrannsoknastofnunin (HAFRA) is the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute of Iceland, known as MFRI. MFRI is a government institute under the auspices of the Ministry of Fisheries. The institute has around 180 employees, 2 research vessels and 10 branches around the country. MFRI conducts various marine and freshwater research and provides the Ministry with scientific advice based on its research on marine and freshwater resources and the environment. MFRI is leading in marine and freshwater research in Icelandic territories and the arctic, providing advice on sustainable use and protection of the environment with an ecosystem approach by monitoring marine and freshwater ecosystems. The main research priorities are research on marine and freshwater ecosystems, sustainable exploitation of main stocks, ecosystem approach to fisheries management, research on fishing technology and seafloor as well as habitat mapping. MFRI is highly regarded in the scientific community and is therefore a valuable research partner, active at an international level with a strong infrastructure and high-quality equipment. MFRI is an appealing work place with progressive human resources policy to strengthen the institute’s competitiveness and an effective gender equality policy.
Role
HAFRA (MFRI) are involved in WP2 Transnational Access.
Access to Research Vessels and related infrastructure: RV Arni Fridriksson [Global/Ocean] as a platform for research in the North Atlantic as well as training platform for students.
MFRI will undertake activities in WP1 Project Management and WP5 Stakeholder Engagement.
Outreach to new users: As Iceland is located in the middle of the North Atlantic with a long tradition for fisheries as well as Fishery, Hydrographic and Oceanographic surveys it will be valuable for science in Europe to have access to our research vessels, crew and scientist. As well, it will be very valuable for MFRI to be able to have access to equipment, experience and scientists of other Eurofleets+ nations.
