Drix and Observatorio I

Oceanic Observatory of Madeira


The Oceanic Observatory of Madeira (OOM) is a technological platform that aims to provide high-resolution, high-quality scientific data from Madeira EEZ for the public and private sectors, the scientific community and society in general.

The long-term objectives are to stimulate the sustainable development of the Blue Economy, create a digital twin of the ocean around Madeira and increase the systematic collection of data using state-of-the-art equipment.

OOM began in 2014 with a project of the same name, through ERDF funds within ARDITI (Regional Agency for the Development of Research, Technology and Innovation) with the aim of bringing together organisations, people and data on a common platform about Madeira Island sea.

With this project, a consortium with the same name was created, which is composed by public entities (Funchal Municipality through Marine Biology Station and Natural History Museum, the Regional Fisheries Directorate through the Research Services and Mariculture Center of Calheta, Machico Municipality through the Whale Museum, the Natural Park of Madeira and University of Madeira) and also private (AREAM - Regional Agency of Energy and Environment, CIIMAR-Madeira Interdisciplinary Center of Marine and Environmental Research, MARE-Madeira Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Madeira WindBirds, Marisland, Ventura do Mar, Ports of Madeira, SPEA (Portuguese Society for Bird Research).

Following the end of funding for the first project in 2021, stimulated by the "Atlantic Sentinel" protocol signed between the Regional Government, the Portuguese Military, the University of Madeira and ARDITI, OOM began to function as an interface platform between the various sectors of society, allowing for the collection of data and the generation of products to enable the monitoring of our Atlantic surroundings. Through regional investment, incorporating funds from the RRP - Recovery and Resilience Plan, it was possible to acquire various state-of-the-art equipment, as well as to build an Operational Center, which functions as a support base for maritime operations.

OOM is also the platform that represents the Autonomous Region of Madeira in the "Atlantic Observatory - Data and Monitoring Infrastructure", financed by EEA Grants. The technological platform will also be used to promote teaching programs (Bachelor, Master and Doctoral degrees) in Marine Sciences and Technologies in close cooperation with the University of Madeira.

The project website is available in https://oom.arditi.pt/projetoOOM1420