From Cornwall to Scotland: The Rock Pool Project expands with seven new UK Hubs

Calling all citizen scientists – one of Britain’s favourite seaside pastimes is going national. The Rock Pool Project has announced the launch of seven new hubs across the UK, bringing its Competitive Rock Pooling events to more coastal communities than ever before. Thanks to support from the ScottishPower Foundation, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and … Read more

Diatoms reveal survival strategy under nutrient co-limitation 

Scientists at the Marine Biological Association (MBA) and the University of Exeter have discovered how tiny photosynthetic microbes known as phytoplankton prioritise resource use when nutrients are scarce, in a breakthrough that could reshape our understanding of the impacts of nutrient limitation on these important organisms, which form the base of marine food webs. 

Public surveys launched to investigate extraordinary ‘octopus bloom’ in South West waters

The Marine Biological Association (MBA) has launched two public surveys to gather vital information on the unusual surge in common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) numbers reported in the waters off the south coast of Devon and Cornwall this year. Numbers of octopus have been rising off the coast of Devon and Cornwall. c. Keith Hiscock MBE … Read more

Professor David Sims marks 50 years since Jaws with reflections on shark conservation

As the iconic film Jaws marks its 50th anniversary this week, MBA Senior Research Fellow and Professor of Marine Ecology at the University of Southampton, Professor David Sims, has published a compelling article in The Conversation that examines the film’s lasting impact on sharks and how science is helping them recover. In his article titled Jaws helped … Read more

Insights and approaches from the long-term Continuous Plankton Recorder survey contribute to better understanding of ecological synchrony

Populations of animals and plants – even those separated by thousands of miles – can fluctuate in synchrony, driven by shared environmental influences. This striking phenomenon, known as spatial synchrony, is the subject of a new synthesis study published in Ecology Letters, led by researchers at the University of Kansas and co-authored by Dr Lawrence … Read more

Extraordinary sea fan reef discovered off England’s Southwest coast during filming of ‘Ocean with David Attenborough’

Hidden but vulnerable marine treasure discovered in collaboration between the Marine Biological Association, Silverback Films and Open Planet Studios. In an extraordinary moment of chance during the production of Ocean with David Attenborough, a vibrant and exceptionally well-preserved pink sea fan reef has been discovered off the southwest coast of England. The find, described as … Read more

UN-backed global research movement shows benefits of tracking ocean giants for marine conservation

A team of international scientists has tracked over 100 marine megafauna species, identifying the most critical locations in our global ocean for better marine conservation efforts, according to new research published in Science.

Historic seaweed surveys reveal long-term changes in UK’s kelp forests

A new scientific study has unearthed compelling insights into how the UK’s iconic kelp forests are responding to climate change — by revisiting seaweed surveys first conducted over 80 years ago by legendary MBA marine biologist Dr Mary Parke FRS. Published in the journal Diversity and Distributions, the study – Intra and inter-decadal scale variability … Read more

Marine Biological Association makes key contribution to new documentary film Ocean with David Attenborough

Senior Research Fellow Dr Bryce Stewart and the Marine Biological Association’s (MBA) research vessel ‘Sepia’ played a vital role in helping to create key sequences in the film and ensuring its scientific accuracy. Dr Bryce Stewart, Senior Research Fellow for Fisheries and Conservation at the Marine Biological Association (MBA) and Associate Professor at the University … Read more

The Mesolens microscope transforming phytoplankton visualisation

The Marine Biological Association’s Microbiome Centre is home to unique and cutting-edge facilities which allow us to explore the cellular processes that shape the unique biology of marine life. Our world class microscopy equipment, including the Mesolens microscope, allow us to study marine organisms at cellular and subcellular resolution—and we’re proud to house one of … Read more