Team

The IRTA centre, located at Sant Carles de la Ràpita, has a privileged location near seafood fishing areas. IRTA AMIC Programme is responsible for carrying out the Monitoring water quality program in the seafood fishing areas of Catalonia since 1999 and, consequently, is in close contact with the production and administration sector. The programme has long experience in microalgae including those harmful species producing toxins. It is fully equipped for microalgae isolation and culture, molecular and morphological identifications, and toxin analysis. IRTA also has aquaculture research facilities, both indoor and outside. IRTA has also begun to carry out marine phytoplankton analyses in the Valencian Coast.

The Vigo Oceanographic Centre is one of the 9 territorial headquarters of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, assigned as a National Centre to the CSIC since 2021 (IEO-CSIC; Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities). The IEO is dedicated to marine research, especially devoted to the sustainability of fishing resources, oceanography, aquaculture, and protection of the marine environment. The IEO represents Spain in most international scientific and technological forums related to the sea and its resources.

The EURLMB contributes to the improvement and harmonization of analytical methods for marine biotoxins. Its duties are established in the Article 94 of the Regulation (EU) 2017/625. In brief, the EURLMB coordinates the application by the EU National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) and, if necessary, by other official laboratories, of analytical methods (including reference methods) to control marine biotoxins in shellfish.  Therefore, contributes to the public health protection of and to guarantee a maximum level of food safety in the EU.

The Marine Biotoxins Laboratory in Vigo (Spain)was designated as EURLMB in 1993. Currently, the EURLMB is under the Spanish Food Safety and Nutrition Agency (AESAN OA) of the Spanish Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and 2030 Agenda