Observatório do Mar dos Açores

What Observatório do Mar dos Açores does

Observatório do Mar dos Açores (OMA) is a non-profit Technical, Scientific and Cultural Association founded in 2002 by 23 members of the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries of the University of the Azores, headquartered in the historic Fábrica da Baleia de Porto Pim in Horta, Faial Island, Azores, Portugal. Since 2004 it has managed the Whale Factory, a 1940s-1970s whaling station classified as a Property of Public Interest in 1984 and integrated into the Natural Park of Faial in 2010, operating it as a combined industrial archaeology museum and marine science education center housing original autoclaves, steam boilers, Myrens Verksted meal production equipment, Deutz motors, a sperm whale skeleton, and a 6-million-year-old Tusciziphius atlanticus fossil. Its core offerings include the museum visit and guided tours, a six-theme pedagogical offer (Marine Life, Marine Litter, Oceanography, Sustainable Fishing, Marine Archaeology, Deep Sea), multilingual educational kits (Anticiclone dos Açores game, seamount and shark identification materials), citizen science programs (SOS Cagarro brigades, Manta Catalog Azores, Mares Circulares marine litter), and cultural events including the Cine'Eco extension, Maratona Luso-Americana de Leitura Moby Dick, and Os Dias do MAR.

OMA serves four primary segments: Azorean school communities across all teaching levels (including the Tourism Vocational Training Course at Escola Secundária Manuel de Arriaga), the general public and tourists visiting Faial (approximately 7,000 visitors annually), sea users and fishing communities engaged in marine conservation, and research and science institutions collaborating on EU-funded projects. Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining museum admission fees (€7 adult, €3.50 junior/senior, €17 family, €5 reduced, free for Faial residents and under-10s), on-site gift shop sales at the Loja da Fábrica, and — most significantly — government grants and project co-funding from the Regional Government of the Azores (DRCT, DRAM, DRA) and EU programs (EEA Grants, Horizon 2020, NOPLANETB-AMI), supplemented by sponsorship arrangements such as Coca-Cola Iberia's Mares Circulares initiative.

The organization operates with a small specialized team of approximately 7-10 staff, is led by President Carla Dâmaso (elected February 15, 2019), and is institutionally embedded in the Regional Network of Science Centers of the Azores as well as international networks including EMSEA and partnerships with the New Bedford Whaling Museum and Biomuseo of Panama. Its go-to-market relies on event-driven community engagement (school visits, eco-fairs, citizen science brigades, science festivals) and a multilingual digital presence (Portuguese, English, Spanish, French) rather than commercial sales channels. After a €1 million renovation completed in 2018, the museum reopened on May 30, 2023, with a new permanent exhibition under development, reinforcing OMA's position as the Azores' primary marine science interpretation center.

Name

Observatório do Mar dos Açores

Legal name

Observatório do Mar dos Açores

Website

https://oma.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Observatório do Mar dos Açores (OMA) is a non-profit Azorean science center and museum that operates the historic Fábrica da Baleia de Porto Pim, delivering marine science education, citizen science programs, and cultural events to schools, tourists, fishing communities, and research institutions across the Azores and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Museum and Marine Education

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110)

SIC

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900), Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590)

akta.pro primary industry

Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI)

Keywords

• Marine science education
• Industrial heritage museum
• Citizen science programs
• Environmental outreach
• Ocean literacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Horta

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Museum Admission Fees: Revenue generated from paid entry to the Whale Factory Museum of Porto Pim. Standard adult admission is €7, with discounted rates for juniors (€3.50), seniors (€3.50), families (€17), and special categories (€5). Free admission is offered to Faial residents and children up to 10 years old. Guided tours are available for an additional €1.50 per person.
2. Gift Shop Sales (Loja da Fábrica): The on-site factory shop sells thematic products related to the Whale Factory and Azores marine heritage, including posters of marine biodiversity, books, prints, puzzles, T-shirts, DVDs, and other thematic merchandise.
3. Government Grants and Project Funding: OMA receives operational support and project co-funding from the Regional Government of the Azores (Governo Regional dos Açores), including through the Regional Directorate for Science and Technology (DRCT), the Regional Directorate for Marine Affairs (DRAM), and the Regional Directorate for Environment (DRA). Additional European Union co-financing is received through programs such as the EEA Grants (BIOMETORE), Horizon 2020 Marie-Curie Actions (MacaroNight), and NOPLANETB-AMI (EU and Camões, I.P. co-financing). The rehabilitation of the Whale Factory in 2018 was a public investment of approximately €1 million.
4. Sponsorship and Event Partnership Income: OMA organizes events and initiatives in partnership with private and public entities (e.g., Coca-Cola Iberia — Mares Circulares project; Municipality of Horta; Cine'Eco festival extension), which generate income through sponsorship arrangements and collaborative funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

OMA is a non-profit science center and museum operator that manages the Museu da Fábrica da Baleia de Porto Pim, a former 1940s-1970s whaling station classified as industrial heritage. It delivers marine science education through six thematic programs, operates guided tours and a permanent exhibition, runs citizen science brigades (SOS Cagarro, Manta Catalog Azores), and produces multilingual educational resources for schools and the general public.

Product overview

Observatório do Mar dos Açores (OMA) is a science center and museum complex, not a software product company. Its primary offering is the Museu da Fábrica da Baleia de Porto Pim — a converted whaling station (1942-1974) functioning as an industrial archaeology museum and marine science education center. The integrated product portfolio includes: the core museum with its permanent exhibition and original 1940s-70s whale processing machinery; the Pedagogical Offer covering 6 marine science themes (Marine Life, Marine Litter, Oceanography, Sustainable Fishing, Marine Archaeology, Deep Sea); specialized exhibit spaces (Sala Patrão Manuel, Coal Tunnel gallery for rotating exhibitions, Oil Room multi-purpose space); and citizen science programs (SOS Cagarro brigades, Mares Circulares marine litter initiative, Manta Catalog Azores). Research projects including ATLAS, BIOMETORE, and others extend OMA's scientific outreach. The museum receives approximately 7,000 visitors annually and is complemented by a themed shop and guided tour services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Museu da Fábrica da Baleia de Porto Pim (Whaling Station Museum) Historical industrial museum located in a former sperm whale processing factory (1942-1974), now a science center dedicated to maritime heritage, marine science education, and preservation of whaling history in the Azores. Features original whaling machinery and a permanent exhibition. Open Monday-Friday 10h-17h and weekends 12h-18h.
• Oferta Pedagógica (Educational Programs) Six thematic educational programs covering Marine Life, Marine Litter, Oceanography, Sustainable Fishing, Marine Archaeology, and From Whaling to Science / Deep Sea. Programs are adapted to different age groups and educational levels across primary, secondary, and vocational schools in the Azores.
• Visitas Guiadas (Guided Tours) Guided tours of the Whaling Station Museum by prior appointment, priced at €1.50 per person, providing in-depth interpretation of the industrial heritage and marine science content for groups, schools, and organizations.
• Loja da Fábrica (Museum Shop) On-site thematic shop selling products related to the Whaling Factory, whaling heritage, and Azores marine life including posters, books, prints, puzzles, T-shirts, DVDs, and other merchandise.
• Núcleo Museológico de Arqueologia Industrial (Industrial Archaeology Museum Nucleus) Museum nucleus created in May 2008 focused on safeguarding, studying, and promoting the whaling heritage of Faial. Develops studies, publications, debates, and exhibitions on the history of whaling in the Azores.
• Brigadas Científicas SOS Cagarro (Cory's Shearwater Rescue Brigades) Annual citizen science initiative to rescue the endangered Cory's Shearwater (cagarro) birds that fall during their nocturnal first flights. Involves community participation in island-wide rescue operations coordinated with DRAM and other partners.
• Manta Catalog Azores Citizen science project cataloging manta rays in Azores waters using ventral pattern identification, involving divers and diving centers in data collection. Has cataloged 134 Chilean manta ray and 29 oceanic manta rays to date.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 7,000 annual visitors to the Whale Factory museum
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ATLAS (EU-ATLAS Project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerATLAS conducts a transatlantic study of sensitive deep-sea ecosystems including biodiversity and biogeography patterns. OMA organizes pedagogical activities and environmental awareness initiatives, and contributes to an online catalog of cold-water coral species of the Azores.
• BIOMETORE (EEA Grants)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBIOMETORE studied biodiversity associated with two Atlantic seamount systems under Portuguese jurisdiction (Madeira-Tore geological complex and Great Meteor seamount south of the Azores). OMA produced the documentary 'A Bordo do Noruega' and a pedagogical kit on seamounts including a game about an oceanographic expedition and 3D paper model species fact sheets.
• COSTA (COSTAPOPA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOSTA studies sea turtles in the Azores, collecting data on captures, biology, and demography, and promotes good handling practices among fishermen. OMA conducts school outreach activities about turtle rescue methods, threats, and produces promotional materials.
• CONCHAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCONCHA is a multidisciplinary project spanning history, environmental history, art history, literature, terrestrial and underwater archaeology, digital humanities, science communication, and environmental awareness. OMA develops communication content for the project.
• DiscardLessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiscardLess provided knowledge, tools, and methods for reducing discards in European fisheries, supporting the implementation of the landing obligation. OMA edited a shark identification manual for Portuguese fishermen.
• Azorlit (Lixo Marinho Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAzorlit evaluates the risks and impacts of marine litter in the Azores by quantifying threats to local marine fauna through plastic ingestion monitoring in different species, characterizing associated contaminants and metals entering the food chain, developing a floating litter interaction index with sea turtles, and assessing direct economic costs of marine litter in the region.
• Mares Circulares (Coca-Cola Iberia)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMares Circulares is Coca-Cola Iberia's sustainability initiative targeting 100% collection of cans and bottles sold by 2025. OMA collaborates with APEDA, DRP, DRAM, and fishing vessels to collect and characterize floating marine litter in the Azores Sea under this project.
• DRCT — Rede de Centros de Ciência dos AçorescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Regional Directorate for Science and Technology manages the Regional Network of Science Centers of the Azores, which includes OMA and five other science center observatories. OMA participates in coordinated science outreach programs including the Quinzena da Ciência e Tecnologia.
• DRAM — Direção Regional dos Assuntos do MarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRAM is a key government partner for OMA's marine science activities. Collaborates on projects including POPA, Açores Entre-Mares, and SOS Cagarro campaigns, as well as the Azorlit marine litter project and the Palma Action Plan for Marine Litter in the Azores.
• DRA — Direção Regional do AmbienteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Regional Directorate for Environment co-organizes environmental events with OMA such as the Eco-Feira de Natal and the SOS Cagarro brigades, and co-finances the preservation of the Whale Factory heritage collection.
• Reis & Martins, Lda. — Whaling Heritage PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 2008, this partnership safeguards, studies, and inventories the whaling heritage owned by Reis & Martins, Lda. The collection includes spaces (old warehouses on Rua Nova), equipment (whaleboats, launches, naval construction and maintenance tools), and the documentary archive of Faial's former whaling stations operating during 1940–1984. Financed by the Regional Directorate for Culture in 2009. Initiated by heir Tomás Duarte.
• Escola Secundária Manuel de Arriaga (ESMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESMA partners with OMA on the Tourism Vocational Training Course and participates in the Maratona Luso-Americana de Leitura Moby Dick, philosophical encounters, and various educational activities. OMA also supports the school's curricular autonomy and flexibility program.
• New Bedford Whaling Museum (USA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe New Bedford Whaling Museum in Massachusetts hosts the annual Maratona Luso-Americana de Leitura Moby Dick. OMA participates in simultaneous readings with the museum and the Galeria do Baleeiro Açoriano, involving the Azorean emigrant community on the US east coast. This is the 23rd edition of the marathon at the museum.
• Biomuseo de PanamáminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiomuseo in Panama City (building designed by architect Frank Gehry) hosted the TAKA três project and will produce a copy of the Anticiclone dos Açores game for use in its educational activities. OMA marine educator Marinha Cascón conducted the game session at the Sailing Club Panama in Saboga.
• Oceanário de LisboaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the RTP documentary series 'MAR — A Última Fronteira' (MAR — The Last Frontier), a Portuguese documentary series about Portuguese marine biodiversity. OMA hosted the Azores preview of the episode dedicated to the Azores.
• Fundação Oceano AzulminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the RTP documentary series 'MAR — A Última Fronteira' and co-supporting the Blue Azores initiative, which committed to protecting 15% of the Azores' exclusive economic zone as marine protected area.
• RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRTP produced and broadcast the documentary series 'MAR — A Última Fronteira,' the first Portuguese series entirely dedicated to Portuguese marine biodiversity. OMA hosted the Azores premiere of the Azores episode.
• Cine'Eco Festival (Cineclube da Ilha Terceira, Cineclube do Faial, Biblioteca Pública, Expolab)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Cine'Eco environmental film festival has been extended to Faial since 2013 by OMA, with annual partnerships with the Cineclube da Ilha Terceira, Cineclube do Faial, Biblioteca Pública e Arquivo Regional João José da Graça, and Expolab. Screenings are held at the OMA museum and public library.
• iFADO Project (EU Atlantic Ocean Observation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartneriFADO aims for sustainable coordinated monitoring of open Atlantic waters combining traditional national monitoring programs with remote sensing, numerical modeling, and emerging observation platforms. OMA organized an Open Day visit to the project at the Horta Maritime Terminal for students from EBI da Horta, featuring underwater glider demonstrations.
• MacaroNight (Horizon 2020 Marie-Curie Actions)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMacaroNight is a Horizon 2020 Marie-Curie Actions project involving the six Azorean Science Centers, the School of New Technologies of the Azores, Europe Direct Açores, and invited researchers. OMA presented 'Mergulho ao Futuro' (ROV operation activity) and 'Telemetriza-te' (remote location technology for marine science).
• EMSEA (European Marine Science Educators Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOMA participated in the EMSEA conference in São Miguel, Azores, sharing marine education practices with educators from Europe, America, and Asia. OMA's 'Manta Memory' activity was voted the favorite by children at the EMSEA EXPO.
• Município da Horta (CMH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Municipality of Horta co-finances OMA projects including the Sambódromo do Mar Profundo dance performance (with EU and Camões I.P. co-financing) and provides ongoing support for OMA's cultural and educational events.
• Clube Naval da HortaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Horta Nautical Club organizes the Regata Reutilizável on-site, an event where participants build rafts from reusable materials, promoting an ecological spirit and fun rather than competitiveness.
• Associação TrybiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrybio co-organizes the Eco-Feira de Natal at the Whale Factory alongside OMA, the Waste Division of DRA, Parque Natural do Faial, and Câmara Municipal da Horta.
• APEDA (Associação de Proteção ao Ambiente Marinho)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPEDA collaborates with OMA on the Mares Circulares project for floating marine litter collection and characterization in the Azores Sea.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• New Bedford Whaling Museum: U.S.-based whaling heritage museum and active partner of OMA through the Maratona Luso-Americana de Leitura Moby Dick. Directly comparable as a science and cultural institution preserving whaling heritage while delivering marine education programming to schools and the public.
• Biomuseo (Panama): Frank Gehry-designed biodiversity museum in Panama City and OMA's international partner in disseminating the Anticiclone dos Açores educational game. Directly comparable as a publicly engaging museum combining natural history, conservation storytelling, and educational programming.

Regional players

• Museu Carlos Machado: Regional natural history and cultural museum in the Azores (São Miguel). Comparable as a heritage and science institution operating within the Azores archipelago with school programming and a public-facing museum mission.
• Expolab — Centro de Ciência Viva dos Açores: Azores science center and member of the same Regional Network of Science Centers as OMA. Comparable as a regional science communication and education partner with overlapping school programming and citizen science initiatives.

Emerging players

• Fundação Oceano Azul: Portuguese blue economy and ocean conservation foundation supporting the Blue Azores initiative. Comparable as an Azores-based marine conservation actor that co-funds marine protected area commitments and partners with OMA on the MAR documentary series.
• APEDA — Associação de Proteção ao Ambiente Marinho: Portuguese marine environmental NGO partnering with OMA on the Mares Circulares marine litter initiative. Comparable as a regional marine conservation non-profit delivering citizen science and outreach in the Azores.

Broad incumbents

• Oceanário de Lisboa: Portugal's flagship public aquarium and marine science communication venue, and OMA's partner in the MAR — A Última Fronteira documentary series. Comparable as a marine science education destination, though at much larger scale and with an aquarium-focused visitor offering rather than industrial heritage.
• Oceanogràfic (Valencia, Spain): Largest aquarium in Europe, located within the City of Arts and Sciences complex in Valencia. Comparable as a marine science education and conservation venue delivering structured school programming and public exhibits, though operating at urban-megascale rather than regional heritage scale.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium: Internationally recognized marine science education and conservation institution in California. Comparable as a science center combining aquarium exhibits, ocean literacy programming, and citizen science engagement, though at vastly larger scale than OMA.
• National Marine Aquarium (Plymouth, UK): UK's largest publicly funded aquarium and marine science education venue. Comparable as a mission-driven marine education institution with school programming, conservation research, and visitor engagement similar in structure to OMA's pedagogical offer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OAcores
• Facebookfacebook.com/oma.acores
• Instagraminstagram.com/fabricadabaleia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/observat%C3%B3rio-do-mar-dos-a%C3%A7ores

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Observatório do Mar dos Açores