The MBA and Cefas – 120 Years of Collaboration

We recently had the pleasure of welcoming Cefas Chief Executive Neil Hornby and Cefas Chief Scientist, Professor Grant Stentiford to the Marine Biological Association. They were welcomed to our laboratory in Plymouth by Chief Executive, Professor Willie Wilson. They were given a tour around our facilities to see our cutting-edge science laboratories and meet our … Read more

Five years of innovation supported by the Marine Business Technology Centre

Since 2018, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) provided £2.5M to the Marine Business Technology Centre (MBTC) in Devon. This has accelerated the development of marine innovation. It was originally introduced to provide support for businesses in Devon and Plymouth to develop and test new marine technology and thereby support long-term innovation and growth in … Read more

Action is needed to protect ocean giants from lethal ship strikes

Large marine animals such as sharks and whales have huge ecological, social, economic, and cultural importance, but are under great threat from collisions with ships. Copyright: Jeremy Stafford-Deitsch In a recent article published in the journal Nature, experts from the Marine Biological Association (MBA) and University of Southampton (UoS) warn that coordinated action is needed … Read more

CPR Survey recognised as high priority for sustained ocean observing

A recent report published by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) has identified the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey as one of the top priorities for sustained ocean observations. 11 sustained in situ observation systems were evaluated through open consultation with the wider scientific community, following a request by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). Professor … Read more

BBC Countryfile visits Marine Biological Association to learn about ocean warming and plankton, the ‘unsung heroes’ of the sea.

With 2023 on track to be the hottest year on record, scientists are working to understand and predict how these extreme temperatures will affect marine life. BBC Countryfile visited the Marine Biological Association (MBA) to discover how plankton are an essential part of life both above and below the waves, and how warming temperatures will affect … Read more

New partnership will provide technical solutions for plankton recording data

The Marine Biological Association (MBA) is excited to announce the start of a new project which will help meet the operational needs of the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey. The CPR Data Infrastructure Project will enable rapid and accurate data entry, analysis, visualisation and publication using global standards for marine biological data. The MBA has … Read more

CPR Survey announces opportunity for technical partner

The Marine Biological Association is excited to announce an opportunity for a technical partner to produce a cloud-based data management and publication solution to meet the operational needs of the CPR Survey.  The solution will enable rapid and accurate data entry, analysis, visualisation and publication using global standards for marine biological data.  Driven by almost … Read more

Plankton modelling system forecasts important shifts in phenology and community composition in the North Atlantic Ocean

Significant changes in plankton abundance and seasonality due to global climate change could alter the biological carbon pump in the ocean, according to new research. Current Earth System Models (ESMs) used by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) are projecting a decline in phytoplankton (plant plankton) abundance, and predict large seasonal shifts that may … Read more

Innovative approach for analysing historical data reveals new understanding of plankton regime shifts in the North Sea

Scientists have explained that different methods of plankton analysis could give us a greater understanding of plankton regime shifts, and their impact on the marine ecosystem. Plankton are a diverse collection of tiny organisms found in water. They are a vital food source for many organisms and their activity in the ocean helps regulate the … Read more

Continued plankton research crucial to predict the future of ocean life in a changing climate

Gaps in plankton monitoring need to be urgently addressed to assess the impact of climate change on marine life, according to researchers.  Scientists from the Marine Biological Association (MBA) and over 20 universities and research institutions across the world say more work needs to be done to untangle the climate-driven environmental impacts on plankton. Plankton are a diverse collection … Read more