Welcoming Dr. Martin Stelfox as Fellow of the MBA

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

Five years of Marine Research Plymouth Alliance: driving global impact from the UK

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

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

Supporting future leaders in marine biology: Two major MBA funding opportunities now live

We are pleased to announce the opening of two prestigious funding opportunities designed to support early career and established marine biologists: the Ray Lankester Investigatorship and the Peter Baker Investigatorship. Ray Lankester Investigatorship The Ray Lankester Investigatorship offers established researchers the chance to pursue independent marine biological research at the Marine Biological Association (MBA). The … Read more

MBA team launches whale shark tagging mission in Mexico

The MBA’s Sims Group team of researchers have travelled to La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico for a whale shark tagging expedition. The aim of the ERC-funded research expedition to the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) in the Gulf of California (GoC) is to attach custom-made oxygen, temperature, deep-depth, and body movement-sensing tags to adult female … Read more

Marine Biological Association welcomes Professor Thomas Miller as a Fellow of the MBA

We are proud to welcome Professor Thomas James Miller PhD as a Fellow of the Marine Biological Association (FMBA).

Ocean Wonders in Yarn: MBA staff and students turn Plymouth post box into call to engage with the ocean

An ordinary post box on Plymouth Hoe has been transformed into an eye-catching celebration of marine life, thanks to a team of creative staff and students from the Marine Biological Association, who have handcrafted an intricately beautiful knitted and crocheted topper inspired by the sea.

Bloomin’ Octopus! New film explores the science behind the octopus surge in the southwest

Filmmaker and diver David Palfrey expected a routine dive off the Cornish coast—but instead encountered something extraordinary: octopus after octopus, gathered in open water and observing him in return. These surprising encounters inspired Bloomin’ Octopus! A Tentacular Spectacular, a new short film exploring the remarkable ‘octopus bloom’ in southwest England in 2025.

Study provides detailed assessment of shifts in toxin producing phytoplankton abundance

UK researchers, including from the Marine Biological Association and the University of Plymouth, have shown how the distributions of two phytoplankton groups known to produce natural toxins that can halt shellfish harvesting have changed in the North East Atlantic over the last six decades.Â