Scientists at the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth have made a major contribution to Charting Progress 2, a report representing the largest and most comprehensive assessment ever undertaken of the health of marine ecosystems in UK waters, which Defra released today.

Charting Progress 2 gathers together a huge body of evidence from marine agencies, research institutes, universities, environmental organisations and industries around the UK to measure the progress we have made towards achieving healthy and biologically diverse oceans and seas since the first Charting Progress report in 2005.

Dr Matt Frost of the Marine Biological Association was the lead editor on the feeder report on Healthy and Biologically Diverse Seas which describes the pressures which particular species and habitats are subject to, along with information on whether these pressures are increasing or decreasing.

Assessments of the seabed and the pelagic (open sea) realm were carried out for 8 regions around the UK. The report shows that some areas of the seabed have been little affected by human activities while others were moderately or highly changed compared to former natural conditions. Northern areas were affected chiefly by fishing while in the southern parts of the UK impacts were seen from a broader range of activities. Sediment habitats were more affected by human pressure than rocky habitats, although reefs - particularly those made of coral or other organisms - have been damaged by mobile fishing gear. While fishing pressure has reduced over the past few years, new activities such as offshore windfarms and the effects of climate change and the spread of non-native species are set to increase in coming decades.

In the intertidal zone, habitat loss is a major issue, particularly where habitats are squeezed as rising sea levels come up against coastal defences.

The importance of bacteria and viruses for primary productivity and sustaining the balance and diversity of marine life is highlighted in CP2, which contains the first assessment of the pelagic realm.

Copies of the full report and overview are at http://chartingprogress.defra.gov.uk

Professor Colin Brownlee, Director of the MBA, said "Turning science into policy advice is one of the MBA's key roles and we are delighted that we have had substantial input to such an important document."

Within the feeder report edited by MBA staff, the section on microbes was led by Dr Declan Schroeder; Professor David Sims contributed to the section on fish; Dr Nova Mieskowska and Dr Keith Hiscock contributed to the section on habitats, and the MBA's sister organisation SAHFOS authored the section on plankton.