Many organizations do research on the ocean and its ecosystems here in Iceland but they vary in their operations. Among the organizations are Siglingastofnun, Orkustofnun which has been a part of research related to resources on and under the ocean bed, Vedurstofan researches the ocean area, weather conditions and the effects of ocean currents and there are a few independent research centers around the island. The University of Iceland and University of Akureyri have also done ocean related research but the two biggest organizations in ocean related research are Hafrannsóknastofnun Íslands (Marine Research Institute) and Matís.

The Marine Research Institute employs 160 workers and their operations are divided into three research fields which are Marine Environment Section, Marine Resources Section and The Fisheries Advisory Section. The organization also runs supporting departments such as branches and experimental aquaculture in Grindavik. Note that despite The Marine Research Institute being included under research the biggest part of their operations are monitoring activities that directly support their Fisheries Advisory Section. Four times a year the institutions ships go all around the island, measure temperatures, salinity, ocean currents and other physical properties of the ocean and productivity. The Marine Research Institute

(An abstract from a report by the Iceland Ocean Cluster.)