Vestmannaeyjar Research and Study Center
The Westman Islands´ Research and Study Centre was established in 1994 and has since become a model for many such in rural areas. Its purpose is research and development in mariculture, fisheries, the environment of the Westman Islands and Iceland´s southern district in collaboration with the local economy. The centre houses all institutions in the islands involved in basic research, applied research, data collection, economic innovations and service measurements and tests for public and private organisations and companies. It is also the centre of adult education and distance learning at university level.
Institutions and branches:
The Marine Research Institute
The Marine Research Institute (MRI) is Icelands´s largest in the field of mariculture and fisheries. Collaboration with foreign research institutions and universities form a large part of its activity. It is a government institution within the Ministry of Fisheries and its three main areas of activity are:
- research on the marine environment and its living
resources.
- providing the government with advice on catch levels
and conservation measures
- providing the government, the fishery sector and the
general public with relevant data and information.
Its Westman Islands´ branch laboratory carries out research, both locally and in larger collaborative projects. It serves as the MRI´s contact with the local fishery industry and an important part of its activites is collecting data from landed catch. Smaller projects include receiving and measuring tagged fish and taking samples to measure pollution in seaweed and mussels.
The University of Iceland – Westman Islands
The University of Iceland is both an academic and research institution with strong ties to the economic life of the country. Its faculties are manned by well educated and well trained teachers and scientists, research methods are well-established as is collaboration with foreign institutions. The purpose of the Westman Island branch is to lay the groundwork for further university activity in the islands. A particular emphasis is placed on research and research related studies in the natural sciences and subjects connected to the economy of the islands. Environmental health and protection office for South Iceland
The head office is situated at Selfoss with a branch in the Westman Islands. All municipalities in South Iceland contribute to its running and its main dutes are: issuing licences and acting as a monitoring and supervisory body in many areas such as food processing, tourism, environmental protection and pollution control. It monitors drinking water and food quality and acts in an advisory capacity in municipal planning and building etc.