Our mission is to advance sustainable use of the marine environment through our systems-thinking approach to research, education and innovation.
Plymouth has been a focus for marine science for over 100 years. Our research and partnerships are fundamental in helping us understand the marine environment and how best to tackle the challenges it currently faces.
Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS
Director of the Marine Institute
Attending INC-5
25 November – 1 December 2024, Busan, Republic of Korea
Attending Coastal Futures 2025
29–30 January, Royal Geographical Society in London and online
Research priorities
- Towards net zero
- Sustainable blue economy
- Safe seas
- Healthy oceans
- Life on Earth is threatened by increasing temperature, rising sea levels and more extreme weather events, resulting in flooding and wildfires.
- Our oceans absorb a substantial proportion of CO2 from the atmosphere, mitigating the rise in greenhouse gases to some extent, but this leads to ocean acidification.
- Changes are occurring at a faster rate than nature can adapt to.
- 40% of the world’s population live in coastal areas, with many relying on the ocean for their livelihoods.
- The marine environment is a major contributor to food security and 80% of global trade uses the seas, yet human activity is the primary cause for environmental degradation, putting those same livelihoods at risk.
- Technological, societal and environmental threats can result directly from human reliance on the ocean, as well as from natural hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis.
- Threats ranging from cyber attacks to coastal erosion or flooding all have the potential to cause major disruption.
- Accelerated industrial development, coupled with a progressively throw-away society, has played a significant role in the degradation of our oceans through pollution.
- These societal trends have serious negative effects for marine ecosystems, reducing our ability to rely on them as a source of food.
- We urgently need to optimise the sustainable use of our oceans for food and energy security, while protecting and improving planetary health
- To achieve our objectives, we need rapid acceleration in the development of digital technology.
Latest news in marine and maritime
Families can have a whale of a time at The House, this half term holiday
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Weever stings provide scientists with a unique way of assessing impacts of environment on coastal fish populations
A new study has used lifeguard records of beach users and weever fish stings to learn more about populations of weever fish
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University takes the helm of global scientific drilling research programme
Academic from Plymouth assumes leadership of the International Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP3) Science Office
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Study highlights complex ocean conditions facing world’s most powerful tidal turbine
Scientists combined innovative drone technology and boat-based surveys to pave the way for the efficient and sustainable development of tidal energy
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University scientist plays key role in global Plankton Manifesto
Dr Abigail McQuatters-Gollop helped to develop the landmark document unveiled at the United Nations General Assembly in New York
- More related news
Marine and maritime events
- Rockpool Safaris 1 November 2024 10:00 - 11:00
- Seaquest 2 November 2024 08:30 - 10:30
- Rockpool Safaris 2 November 2024 11:00 - 12:30
- Rockpool Safaris 3 November 2024 11:30 - 13:00
- Marine Research Plymouth Research Dialogue #7 6 November 2024 13:00 - 17:00
Education and innovation
Industry support
- long-term strategic partnerships to help with product and performance testing, workforce development, and ongoing research and development support
- support to access public funds
- and access to a large talent pool of students and PhDs.
University student and staff opportunities
Contact the Marine Institute
Marine Institute, Level 3, Marine Building, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA