C. Kirsty Andrews | Octopus being harassed by cuckoo wrasse The Marine Biological Association (MBA) has released new findings from the second major scientific study documenting an unprecedented surge, or “bloom”, of common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) off the southwest coast of the UK since 2025. The event is the largest recorded in at least 75 … Read more
The MBA is proud to welcome Dr. Martin Stelfox as a new Fellow of the Marine Biological Association (FMBA). Dr Stelfoxis a marine biologist, conservation leader, and founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Olive Ridley Project (ORP), an international conservation charity dedicated to protecting sea turtles and their habitats. Over the past two decades, he … Read more
This five-year anniversary underscores the strength and longevity of the partnership and its growing impact on both regional and international stages;demonstrating the power of collaboration in tackling some of the biggest challenges facing our ocean – discover what we’ve achieved together in that time. Bringing together the internationally renowned expertise of Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), … Read more
Excellence in plankton science: Sixth NMBAQC zooplankton ring test hosted at MBA The sixth official zooplankton component exercise of the NMBAQC (Northeast Atlantic Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control) scheme NMBAQC – NMBAQC has successfully wrapped up, continuing its tradition of scientific collaboration and skills benchmarking. Hosted by the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey at the … Read more
A new economic analysis has shown that sequencing the DNA of all complex life in the UK and Ireland could deliver up to almost £3 billion in benefits to the economy over the next 30 years, with wide‑ranging impacts across agriculture, conservation, and research and innovation.
Defra recently published the findings of a joint project between the Marine Biological Association (MBA), Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) and the Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN), reviewing the current landscape for marine social and economic data.
Looking for the perfect book to curl up with this winter? If you love the ocean, marine life and the stories behind our ocean, these three titles – reviewed in The Marine Biologist magazine – are essential additions to your reading list. Plus, MBA Members enjoy exclusive discounts when purchasing through the publishers!
Earth’s natural defences are losing strength as temperatures rise, major new report warns. The planet’s natural carbon sinks – the ocean, forests and soils – are reaching their limits, absorbing less carbon than expected and risking a major setback to global climate targets, according to a major new report launched today ahead of COP30. The … Read more
Scientists from Borneo Marine Research Institute (BMRI) and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) have discovered a new marine tardigrade species, Batillipes malaysianus, found along the shores of Labuan. Lead researcher Associate Professor Dr Cheng-Ann Chen said the discovery stems from field surveys conducted on 29 November 2023 and 16 September 2024 (Malaysia Day). He said the … Read more
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
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The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom is a registered charity in England and Wales (1155893), and is a company limited by Royal Charter (RC000865). The Marine Biological Association conducts, promotes and supports scientific research into all aspects of life in the sea.