From 13th to 16th July 2005 a Symposium to monitor the research projects related to Prestige's oil spill was held in Vigo (Galicia, Spain), particularly those funded by the Strategic Action of Ministry of Education and Science, with the aim of constituting a forum for researchers meeting, where it will be possible to present, discuss and transfer their results.

250 researchers from over 58 institutions attended the meeting and presented their research works in 71 oral communications and 84 posters.

The organization was carried out by the Technical Bureau of Marine Spills and by the Scientific Coordination Commission of Strategic Action.

The technical organization of the Symposium was carried out by Technical Bureau of Marine Spills. Secretary tasks were developed by Cidade Universitaria company, with head office in Vigo University Campus, and wide experience in congress organization.

Contact information:

Technical Bureau of Marine Spills

Office of Vice-Rector for Research. Vigo University.
Phone: (+34) 986 813968
Fax: (+34) 986 812019
otvmarinos@uvigo.es
http://otvm.uvigo.es

Cidade Universitaria S.A.

Phone: (+34) 986 467860
Fax: (+34) 986 467861
cidadeuniversitaria@universia.es
http://www.cidade-universitaria.com

The topics discussed are the same five work programmes covered by the research lines of the Strategic Action against Accidental Marine Oil Spills:

	Shipwreck associated problems study.
	Operational oceanography implementation on hydrocarbons spills.
	Fuel-oil distribution and dynamic in affected ecosystems.
	Impact on biologic systems.
	Spill socio-economical impact.

The scientific supervision of the Symposium was carried out by the Scientific Coordination Commission, composed by the following members:

Name	Position	Institution
Beatriz Morales-Nin	Chairwoman	MEC
Joan Albaiges Riera	Vice-chairman	IIQAB-CSIC
Federico Vilas Martín	Secretary	Univ. Vigo
Juan José González Fernández	Member	IEO-Vigo
Fco. Javier del Moral Hernández	Member	Univ. Coruña
Fiz Fernández Pérez	Member	IIM-Vigo
Ionan Marigómez Allende	Member	Univ. País Vasco
Miguel Ángel Ríos Fernández	Member	Univ. Santiago de Compostela
Fco. Javier Sánchez Delgado	Member	IEO Santander
Victoriano Urgorri Carrasco	Member	Univ. Santiago de Compostela
Íñigo Javier Losada Rodríguez	Member	Univ. Cantabria