Recent developments in Spanish performed marine science refer to a “big science” demand bounded between two large, abrupt changes in system behaviour. On April 25, 1998, the Aznalcóllar (near Seville) mining spill, and on 13 November 2002 the Prestige Oil spill off the Galician coast. Consistently associated with desirable scientific outcomes a multi-faceted insight through the Spanish Presidence of the European Commission, January-June 2002, has been offered by the Innovation Directorate. And an amount of 3.530 million € was provided from the Government to promote public and private research in 2001. What is marine science information, from Spain, expected to offer in this period (2001-2002)? With no doubt, the concept of leadership has been challenged by the Spanish Presidency. The key action sustainable marine ecosystems, kept into the energy, environment and sustainable development program, of the 5th Framework Programme, has been analysed. Both the methodological approach, and the results obtained will be facilitated along this report.Peer reviewed