The Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (French for 'French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea') or Ifremer is an oceanographic institution in France. A state-run and funded scientific organization, it is France's national integrated marine science research institute. Ifremer operates a number of research vessels and other vehicles, including the ROV Victor 6000 and the crewed submersible Nautile.

Ifremer focuses its research activities in the following areas:

In other words, Ifremer's purpose is to:

"Conduct research, innovate, and provide expertise to protect and restore the ocean, sustainably manage marine resources and ecosystems, and share marine data."

Ifremer is located at 26 sites, including five main centres (Boulogne, Brest, Nantes, Toulon, and Tahiti), with headquarters at Brest. About twenty research departments are associated to these centres.^{[citation needed]}