Policy briefings for policymakers
Key findings and recommendations to inform policy making
Welcome to our policy briefing repository. These briefings provide an evidence base for policy makers looking to access the latest academic research and expertise.
30,000 tonnes of mussels
Growth Aspirations for English Aquaculture predict that the UK will produce 30,000 tonnes of mussels each year by 2040. The UK's first offshore mussel farm, Offshore Shellfish Ltd., annually contributes over £1.5 million to the economy, producing a net total of 850 tonnes of high protein.
Our research has shown that the offshore aquaculture industry can deliver crucial benefits to the UK, from increased food security and economic resilience, to enhanced contributions to marine conservation as a Biodiversity Net Gain. However, major obstacles face its expansion: space competition, licensing constraints, negative public perception, and lack of secure access to export markets. Researchers from the University of Plymouth are determining what will be required to reach national food security goals.
Marine light pollution
Two million square kilometres of the world's oceans and 22% of coastlines are exposed to light pollution from offshore infrastructure and coastal towns and cities – together they form artificial skyglow that can expand the impact of light pollution to hundreds of kilometres offshore.
Artificial light at night (ALAN) is of growing concern as a pollutant to our seas. It disrupts the natural patterns and biological processes of marine life, including those that support critical ecosystem services. This includes animals' ability to see their environment – to hunt, hide, communicate, navigate, grow, time important events and reproduce.
The impacts of light pollution on the night sky, astronomy and land-based ecosystems are well studied – but until just over 10 years ago, the full extent of ALAN in our coastal waters, seas and oceans was unknown.
A climate problem-solving generation
There is an urgent need to deliver net zero by 2050 if we are to avoid catastrophic climate change. Timelines are slipping and there is a major skills shortage for the green economy, with the UK facing a green energy skills gap of 200,000 workers.
There must be a step change in how the education system prepares young people for a rapidly changing world. Engaging young people meaningfully with the issues and practical solutions will motivate them to consider a green career.
Reducing Fatherhood Forfeits: The importance of gender equality in parenting
Modern fathers are more actively involved in the caregiving of their children than ever before, which benefits both parents and children. This more active role has a direct and positive impact on children’s wellbeing and their attainment in school.
Policy makers and legislators should note this societal change and consider amendments to legislation to enable fairer opportunities for caregiving fathers.
Similarly, businesses should take action to improve the experiences of caregiving fathers at work to maximise the effectiveness of the labour market and reduce skills shortages, which have a significant impact upon the UK economy and the gender pay gap.
A flexible approach to decommissioning obsolete oil and gas structures
There are more than 1,500 oil and gas installations in the North Sea. An increasing number of them will reach end of production and require decommissioning in the next two decades.
Since the 1990s, legislation in the North Sea and wider northeast Atlantic under OSPAR Decision 98/3 dictates that obsolete oil and gas platforms must be fully removed from the marine environment at end-of-life. As the world transitions to greener energy, wind turbines and wave-energy devices are being added to the marine environment but will also require removal at end-of-life. Options other than removal do exist and are being implemented elsewhere in the world, including partial removal, relocation, or repurposing (e.g. as artificial reefs, dive resorts or mariculture facilities), but are not currently considered in the OSPAR maritime area.
New roles in primary care
How can the implementation and integration of new roles in primary care be better supported?
The Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS), which aims to add 26,000 new clinical roles within primary care, is a key element of the government commitment to increase GP appointments by 50 million. These roles are made up of established professions, such as pharmacists, physiotherapists and paramedics, as well as new professions such as social prescribing link workers.
Barriers to recruitment of internationally trained doctors to meet skills gaps in the NHS
To meet current skills gaps in the NHS, there is a need to recruit doctors from overseas.
Recent research from the University of Plymouth has identified some of the barriers to successful migration of doctors and offered some recommendations to ensure the transition to work of international doctors is safe, rapid, and supportive.
The importance of mental health in supporting the retention of NHS nursing staff
The COVID-19 pandemic had a big impact on the mental health of nurses with a recent survey showing that 90% of nurses reported a higher level of anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic (House of Commons 2020).
This policy briefing summarises work done at
Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research (PIHR)
regarding the mental health of nurses in relation to retention of staff within the NHS.
Plastics and microplastic pollution
Evidence comparing the solutions
The magnitude of the global environmental challenge associated with plastic pollution was recently acknowledged by agreement among 175 nations, including the UK, to develop a legally binding agreement by 2024 – the UN Plastic Pollution Treaty.
How to be cyber secure at sea
Protecting maritime infrastructure from digital threats
As the maritime sector becomes more technologically advanced there is an increased threat of critical national infrastructure to be compromised, essential services to be
stopped, and both lives and livelihoods to be affected. The
Maritime Cyber Threats research group
is looking holistically at the digital threats that affect the maritime sector.
stopped, and both lives and livelihoods to be affected. The
