Based in Tihany, the Balaton Limnological Research Institute (BLKI) is Hungary’s biological research institute boasting the longest history. Its main tasks include freshwater research, the exploration of the biota of Lake Balaton and its catchment area, study of the spatial and temporal variation changes, life processes and materiality features of the lake, and the exploration of environmental and anthropogenic factors affecting these.
The Institute also conducts basic and applied research related to existing international conventions on the protection of aquatic habitats, biodiversity and water quality with special focus on the professional background for implementing the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), and the development of ecological status assessment systems.
Through its research results the Institute supports the protection and preservation of freshwater and wetland habitats, thus contributing to sustainable development in the Carpathian Basin.