Project Owner – Norway
Within SBFS, IMR is the project owner and lead Norwegian partner. It provides strategic oversight and ensures the programme is run according to international best practice. IMR contributes its technical expertise on fisheries stock assessment, hydroacoustic surveys, statistical modelling, and the use of advanced tools such as StoX, R, and the WIO-Symphony. IMR also coordinates exchange and training opportunities, including joint surveys with the EAF-Nansen vessel, which gives KMFRI scientists practical experience in world-class fisheries assessment methods.
In relation to the Blue Carbon Hub Kenya, IMR plays a supportive role by embedding blue carbon considerations within fisheries and spatial planning work. Its scientists help design monitoring frameworks that connect fishery sustainability with ecosystem health, ensuring that fisheries, aquaculture, and blue carbon management are considered together. IMR’s long history of integrating science with policy gives SBFS a strong backbone, enabling Kenyan institutions to build systems that can sustain blue food security while protecting ecosystems.
About The Institute of Marine Research (IMR)
The Institute of Marine Research (IMR) is Norway’s largest centre for marine science, founded in 1900. It employs more than a thousand staff and operates research vessels, laboratories, and aquaculture facilities. IMR provides independent scientific advice to the Norwegian government on fisheries management, climate change, and ecosystem health, making it a global leader in sustainable ocean management. Its work has shaped Norway’s reputation as a country that combines strong marine stewardship with thriving fisheries.
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