New research highlights opportunities to transform UK marine monitoring

Dr Abigail McQuatters-Gollop and Dr Matthew Holland are among the authors of a new report into the monitoring of nutrient pollution in UK waters

21 May 2025

Coastal communities and marine wildlife could benefit from improved monitoring of nutrient pollution in UK waters, according to new research involving scientists at the University of Plymouth.

The study, published in Frontiers in Ocean Sustainability and led by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), reveals how the UK could drive innovation in integrated eutrophication monitoring approaches and advanced technology.

Eutrophication is the process where excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus enter waterways, causing harmful algal blooms and oxygen-depleted 'dead zones' that damage marine ecosystems.

The comprehensive review, also in partnership with the Environment Agency, Marine Directorate of the Scottish Government, Scottish Association of Marine Science, and Tropwater, James Cook University, outlines five transformative opportunities to improve marine monitoring and adapt to the challenges of climate change and a changing marine environment:

Advance data collection: In addition to traditional methods like research vessels, continuing to integrate data from emerging technologies such as real-time autonomous sensors, satellites, and AI, which enables more frequent and cost-effective monitoring. For instance, satellite data that detects tiny ocean particles—caused by plants, plankton, or pollution—is not yet routinely used in eutrophication assessments, despite its potential value.
Cross-boundary coordination: Breaking down barriers and improving coordination between agencies monitoring land, rivers and seas to create an integrated approach, rather than separate activities limited by political and geographical boundaries.
Additional indicators: Collecting data on trends can help understand changes to water quality over time, improving the ability to predict future change, while indicators that measure the social, economic and environmental impacts of nutrient pollution can inform different management solutions.
Understanding ecosystems: Monitoring sensitive organisms like plankton communities and fish populations to gain deeper insights into ocean health.
Adapting to climate change: Recognising the interconnection between climate change and nutrient pollution to better predict and mitigate future impacts.

The study’s authors included Associate Professor of Marine Conservation Dr Abigail McQuatters-Gollop , who chairs the OSPAR and UK Pelagic Habitats Expert Groups, and Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr Matthew Holland from the University of Plymouth.

Their work on developing biodiversity indicators for marine plankton to inform OSPAR and UK Marine Strategy assessments informs components of the eutrophication assessments discussed in this report.

They also continue to investigate ways to better understand how human pressures that influence eutrophication, such as nutrient pollution and climate change, also impact plankton biodiversity and marine food webs.

We have a wealth of historic data on phytoplankton and zooplankton biodiversity in the open ocean, thanks to the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey programme.

However, our monitoring of estuaries and river plumes has traditionally been focused on detecting water quality issues. As a result of that, we still know comparatively little about, for example, zooplankton in these transitional habitats. The more complete our understanding is of plankton biodiversity, the better we can manage the marine environment and prepare for – and adapt to – change. It’s critical that policy makers have the data-driven understanding of plankton dynamics to make decisions based on evidence.

Dr Abigail McQuatters-Gollop
Associate Professor of Marine Conservation

This lack of data is compounded by the fact that until recently, satellite sensors were much less reliable in their coverage of coastal environments.

The result is that in many cases, we understand much less about how plankton are changing in our nearshore environments than we do about the middle of the North Sea or the Atlantic Ocean. Based on some of the recommendations discussed in this study, in 2026 we will be starting a project – with a diverse group of plankton researchers across the UK – that will apply traditional and advanced data collection methods, like automated imaging and earth observation, to better understand plankton biodiversity across the interface of river, estuary, and sea.

Dr Matthew Holland
Research Fellow

Following Britain's exit from the EU, the UK government's Marine Strategy now serves as the main framework for coordinating legislation and monitoring for marine waters across the four UK Administrations.

The report calls for government agencies responsible for monitoring coastal and marine waters in the UK to work collaboratively to innovate and improve monitoring programmes, alongside better engagement with river trusts, conservation groups, farmers, water operators and communities.

This research supports the government's Water Bill, which sets out a commitment to cleaning up Britain's waterways and strengthen regulation of water companies.

The UK has a strong track record in assessing eutrophication and tackling nutrient pollution, leading to real improvements in water quality.

But as our marine environment continues to change—and as data collection capabilities expand—our current definition of a ‘healthy’ marine ecosystem is increasingly outdated. We need to adapt our approach to how we define and monitor ocean health.

Future assessments must harness cutting-edge technology, break down barriers between monitoring agencies, and collect data that truly reflects the complex interplay between pollution, biodiversity and climate change. With a more comprehensive understanding, we can provide the right guidance to policymakers to protect marine ecosystems, balancing the needs of nature and society.

Professor Michelle Devlin
Principal Biogeochemistry Scientist at Cefas and lead author on the study

The full study - Devlin et al: Shifting sands of marine eutrophication assessments: building a future approach for UK marine waters - is published in Frontiers in Ocean Sustainability, DOI: 10.3389/focsu.2025.1561741.

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