The Marine Sciences research section studies how to use ocean life in a sustainable way. Their work combines marine biology, fish farming (aquaculture), and technology. They are part of NTNU Strategic Research Area "Ocean and Coast".

Their main research areas include fish farming, ocean ecology, animal biology, pollution effects, genetics, and how marine ecosystems change.

The aquaculture research focuses on understanding what fish and algae need to grow well and using that knowledge to develop better technology for different stages of their lives.

Research groups

Dynamics of sex roles and sexual selection in males and females
(PI: Trond Amundsen)

Pelagic food webs
(PI: Nicole Arberle-Malzahn)

Aquaculture biology, fish physiology and wild fish interactions
(PI: Bengt Finstad)

Marine ecophysiology
(PI: Geir Johnsen)

Early life history of fish and aquaculture
(PI: Elin Kjørsvik)

Lipid nutrition and biochemistry, stress and welfare
(PI: Rolf Erik Olsen)

Ecology of plankton and marine bioresources
(PI: Yngvar Olsen)

Environmental interactions to aquaculture
(PI: Kjell Inge Reitan)

Marine Bioacoustics and Ecology
(PI: Ana Širović)

Zooplankton and Micronekton Laboratory (ZooMic Lab)
(PI: Jose Maria Landeira Sanchez)

Phytoplankton Ecology
(PI: Pauliina Salmi)

Studies

The section is responsible for the higher education programme in aquaculture and marine biology at the Department of Biology:

• Bachelor in Engineering, Aquaculture (Language of instruction Norwegian)
• Bachelor in Biology (Language of instruction Norwegian)
• PhD programme in Biology

Marine infrastructure

SeaLab

The aquaculture and marine ecotoxicology activities are based at SeaLab (NTNU's Centre of Fisheries and Aquaculture). SeaLab is a multidisciplinary centre for marine research and education, used by scientists and students from seven departments and four faculties. Close collaboration with SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture and SINTEF Environmental Technology creates a strong and unique research and learning environment. The centre is located at Brattørkaia.

Trondhjem Biological Station (TBS)

Trondhjem Biological Station (TBS) is NTNU’s center for marine biology research, located by the sea at Byneset. The buildings provide good offices and laboratories. TBS also has indoor and outdoor seawater tanks, basins, and its own pier for access to the NTNU research vessel Gunnerus. These facilities allow staff and students to carry out many types of marine experiments and studies. In recent years, research has focused on the Trondheim Fjord, the coast of mid-Norway, and Arctic areas.

Gunnerus Research Vessel

Gunnerus Research Vessel is equipped with technology for a variety of research activities within biology. The vessel is used both at SeaLab and TBS.