IMAR-UAz is an interdisciplinary unit, involved in marine science research, supporting . It supports and facilitates both pure and applied research. It also performs research activities with appropriate governmental and private research organizations, including services for industry and public administration. IMAR-UAz members are also part is member of the MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre. MARE combines expertise allowing approaching scientifically and technologically on all types of aquatic systems, from river basins and associated landscapes, to estuaries, coastal and large marine ecosystems, the open-ocean and deep-sea, on a context of global and regional changes and cumulative anthropogenic impacts. The IMAR-UAz team is more directly involved in research activities related with the ecology and ecosystem based management of open-ocean and deep-water marine ecosystems including seamounts; cold water coral ecosystems and hydrothermal vents. IMAR-UAz got involved in large international research consortia, most of them within EU framework projects (e.g. partner in 8 FP7 projects and partner of 2 already approved H2020) but many others with a global focus (e.g. Census of Marine Life programs, or the Ocean Tracking Network). It also performs research activities with governmental and private research organizations, including services for industry and public administration.