Technical resources

For the study of the biology of the species of fishing interest, MERVEX group has:

• Histology laboratory in the C. O. Vigo: Dedicated to the study of reproductive ecology. It has all the necessary equipment for automated work in paraffin and resin (tissue processor, microtomes, stainer, etc). The safety and hygiene equipment at work available in the laboratory consists of 7 gas extraction cabinets, two partial masks with filters for formaldehyde and two full masks with filters for formaldehyde.

• Growth laboratory where the bone structures where annual growth rings (mainly otoliths and vertebrae) of the different fishing species are recorded to determine the key age size and growth parameters that are used in the population dynamics models. The laboratory has all the necessary material for the processed and analysis of otoliths and vertebrae (magnifying glasses, resin sample cutter, etc.)

• Image analysis laboratories in the C.O. Vigo and in the C.O A Coruña are dedicated to the study of reproductive and growth ecology for the estimation of biological parameters for evaluation. The laboratory is equipped with standard equipment for image analysis (1 stereomicroscope, 1 macroscope, 4 optical microscopes with digital cameras, 2 Wacom Cintiq tablets DTZ-1200W., Magnifying glasses, image analyzers, etc.)

Oceanographic surveys are a fundamental element for the evaluation of fishery resources. The IEO has the following oceanographic vessels between 15 and 50 meters in length: Ramón Margalef, Francisco de P. Navarro, Lura, and Ángeles Alvariño.
Ecosystem modeling and its interaction with fisheries requires powerful computers. Some of the work is done on personal computers, but we also have an HP Z-800 workstation with 12 processors and we collaborate with CESGA in developing models on their supercomputers.