MBA’s Professor Colin Brownlee to give the 39th Annual Plymouth Marine Science Education Foundation (PlyMSEF) Medal Lecture

The PlyMSEF Medal Lecture is a prestigious annual event celebrating significant contributions to marine science. It provides an opportunity to hear from leading researchers and celebrate Plymouth’s internationally recognised marine science community. Date: Wednesday 11 November 2026 Time: 6:15–8:00 pm Speaker: Professor Colin Brownlee, Marine Biological Association. This year’s lecture is titled Animal, vegetable and … Read more

MBA scientists awarded NERC Urgency Grant to track marine heatwave impacts

The Marine Biological Association (MBA) has been awarded a Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Urgency Grant to investigate the biological effects of the severe-to-extreme marine heatwave recently recorded in the English Channel, southern North Sea and Bay of Biscay.

The Marine Biologist magazine cover shortlisted for prestigious publishing award 

We’re delighted to share that an eye-catching cover of The Marine Biologist magazine has been shortlisted for Cover of the Year at the PPA Independent Publisher Awards 2026.

UK seas face major food chain disruption as plankton shift, scientists predict

Marine scientists warn that continued warming of UK waters is likely to cause major changes to plankton, the tiny drifting plants and animals that form the foundation of marine food webs and feed the fish that end up on our plates.

MBA to play key role in project to improve protection for sharks in English waters

The Marine Biological Association (MBA) is playing a critical role in a major new conservation project that will help to improve understanding and protection of some of England’s most iconic shark species. Led by the University of Exeter and supported through Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme, the three-year project, From data to action: comprehensive assessment … Read more

Competitive rock pool challenge reveals rare finds and non-native species on UK shores

Thousands of observations of marine wildlife have been recorded during the 2026 National BioBlitz, providing valuable data that will help scientists to monitor changes in biodiversity around the UK coastline.

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.