CIME: Centro de Investigaciones Marinas del Estrecho (Marine Research Centre of the Strait)

CIRCE has facilities of 120 m2 in the middle of the Natural Park of the Strait. This research centre has space for 15 researchers to work seamlessly with computers subsidized by the Ministry of Interior of the Government of Andalusia. It has one of the largest private libraries on cetaceans in Spain, with reading room and a meeting room. The research centre also has the possibility to accommodate 4 researchers, with kitchen, lounge, bathroom and terrace overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar, making the centre an ideal place for research stays and an ideal field station.

ELSA Research Boat

CIRCE has the ELSA, a fibre boat 10 meters in length, and two 130 hp engines. This boat is equipped with positioning system connected to a computer, internet, AIS, Radar, VHF radio, and a 5 metres high platform. It has capacity for 8 researchers, and has sailed more than 35 000 kilometres in the last 10 years in the waters of the Strait, Gulf of Cadiz, Alboran Sea and southern Portugal.

Research Materials

CIRCE has 3 cameras Canon D-40, with 100-400mm objectives for photo-identification work. It has two hydrophones, to record sounds of cetaceans. It also has two crossbows for remote biopsy sampling, an AIS and a theodolite for land-based observation programs. It also has 6 pairs of binoculars, two telescopes for land-based observations.