Blog Classic Style

Following huge successes in 2017 and 2018 , for its third edition, the Young Marine Biologist Summit returned to the home of marine biology, Plymouth, on Saturday 14 th December 2019, with forty Young Marine Biologists (YMB’s) taking part in this annual cross-generational celebration of marine biology.

Conversations throughout the day were focused on Climate Change, with the hope of encouraging young people to share their views, while informing their debate on the topic. All speakers (including YMBs) and workshop facilitators were therefore encouraged to explore how their particular subjects may be influenced by climate change. With topics ranged from the weird and wonderful behaviours of marine animals to a comprehensive insight into the world of marine microbes and their role in maintaining ocean health, to ocean literacy and the use of animals in science...

The next call of the ASSEMBLE Plus Transnational Access programme closes on 9 th February 2020.

ASSEMBLE Plus (Association of European Marine Biological Laboratories Expanded) supports researchers (from industry and academia) by providing access to facilities and research services at more than 30 partner institutes. The objective of this programme is to enable researchers to carry out their own research projects using platforms and marine biological resources not available in their own institutes, while establishing new scientific collaborations.

The access programme has received so far more than 300 project proposals from European and non-European researchers and many success stories highlight the value of this opportunity. For example, Karl Attard (University of Southern Denmark) a recipient of the Transnational Access funding expressed the following:...

JMBA

The first issue of the Journal of The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ( JMBA ), Vol. I, no.1 (1887) was edited by E. Ray Lankester, the first President of the MBA, it contained a list of governors, founders and members of the MBA, an account of the formation of the Association and a detailed description of the building, with floor-plans, as well as an account of the local fishing industry and fishing grounds, with a “fishing map” of Plymouth Sound.

Vol. I, no.2 (1888) provided a report of the opening ceremony of the building, substantial lists of the marine flora and fauna of Plymouth Sound, an account of some local fishes and their eggs, three reports of the recent work of existing marine biological organisations in Scotland and Liverpool, and a catalogue of the early MBA Library. After the appointment of the first...

KB

Hi my name is Kellyanne. Back in October, I started as a communications intern at the MBA. I felt apprehensive about starting at the hub of marine research, but excited for the opportunity to try something new. I had studied MSci Zoology at University of Exeter, so I was not only moving to a new position but a new place too.

My first day comprised of a tour of the Citadel Hill laboratory, learning about the MBA’s wealth of history, and being introduced to the different teams working here from membership to researchers I had read about.

Soon enough, I settled in and started to get my head around how different aspects all tie together to encompass the marine biological community. Every day at 11am the MBA holds coffee to encourage different teams to engage with each other, a great opportunity to speak to researchers at different stages of their...

Oceanographer and marine biologist Philip (Chris) Reid was invited to speak at the MBA's AGM in December.

Global warming is upon us. Chris presents the very latest climate change evidence and asks what we, as individuals and countries, can do to change the course we are on.

In the wake of the newly declared climate emergency, a major new publication by the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP) highlights the current and future impacts of climate change on UK seas and dependent industries and society.

More than 150 scientists from over 50 leading research organisations have contributed to this comprehensive, updated review on the range and scale of physical, ecological and societal impacts of climate change on UK coasts and seas.

The report shows that climate impacts for UK coasts and seas are varied and far-reaching, from effects on sea temperatures, oxygen levels, and ocean pH, through to shifting species distributions and impacts on habitats, as well as social and economic impacts including risks to cultural heritage sites, potential implications for human health, and likely increases in future coastal flooding. This...

A new report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released today highlights the growing problem of low oxygen zones in the ocean. The report contains a chapter written by MBA researchers that examines the threats posed by these zones to sharks, skates and rays.

Climate change and nutrient pollution are driving life-sustaining oxygen out of our ocean and coastal waters. This loss of oxygen compounds problems from ocean warming and acidification, threatening marine life and fisheries around the world.

Sharks, tunas and other large predatory fish are having their habitat squeezed as deeper waters become unavailable for them to hunt in or find refuge from surface fisheries.

Prof David Sims, author of the chapter on elasmobranchs, said, “Shrinking habitats of already threatened sharks means susceptibility to overfishing will be even greater...