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.
Richard Thompson OBE FRS
Director of the Marine Institute
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
The Ropes to Reefs project is looking to assess the wider benefits of the UK’s first large-scale offshore mussel farm, located in Lyme Bay
-
What should we do with ageing marine structures?
Dr Anaëlle Lemasson co-authored a comment article in Nature saying current legislation needs to be revised
-
Study explores if Fukushima’s radioactive water could pose lasting threat to humans and the environment
The new research has been published days before the anniversary of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster
-
Academic shortlisted for award recognising the UK’s net zero pioneers
Professor Deborah Greaves OBE FREng has been shortlisted for a 2024 Green Energy Award
-
Scientists provide first detailed estimates of how much sediment is supplied to coral islands from the reef system
New research builds on studies suggesting the islands – found mostly in the Pacific and Indian Oceans – could survive predicted rises in sea levels
- More related news
Marine and maritime events
- The Rock Pool Project and the Living Seawall in Plymouth stand 30 March 2024 14:00 - 15:00
- The Rock Pool Project and the Living Seawall in Plymouth stand 13 April 2024 15:30 - 16:30
- Supergen ORE Hub Early Career Researcher Forum 23 April 2024 08:30 - 17:00
- Supergen Offshore Renewable Energy Hub Annual Assembly 24 April 2024 08:30 - 17:00
- 20th MBA Postgraduate Conference 23 April 2024 - 25 April 2024
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