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
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
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
The MBA is honoured to welcome Rod Downie as a newly appointed Fellow of the Marine Biological Association (FMBA).
We are proud to welcome Professor Thomas James Miller PhD as a Fellow of the Marine Biological Association (FMBA).
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.
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.
The Marine Biological Association
The Laboratory,
Citadel Hill Plymouth,
Devon
PL1 2PB, UK
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.