Marine Institute

Home of world-leading marine research, teaching and innovation
Marine Institute

Our mission is to advance sustainable use of the marine environment through our systems-thinking approach to research, education and innovation.

With one of the largest marine and maritime portfolios of any institution in Europe, we have a long-held and outstanding international reputation for conducting world-leading, transdisciplinary research.

Through this, with our partners and collaborators, we are developing and optimising positive interventions in response to global challenges, while training the scientists and business leaders of the future.

We have joined forces with the Marine Biological Association and Plymouth Marine Laboratory to launch Marine Research Plymouth. Collectively, we host the largest number of marine scientists in any UK city and establish Plymouth as an international centre of excellence for marine research.

Below the surface

Explore our research Explore our research
 Advancing knowledge on topics including climate change, offshore renewable energy, storm impacts, maritime cybersecurity, habitat protection and biodiversity, the blue economy and more

Collaborate with us Collaborate with us
 Connecting industry with academic expertise to develop innovative real-world solutions and provide business support

Search marine courses and programmes Search marine courses and programmes
 Educating over 2,500 students annually with one of the broadest selections of marine and maritime courses available in Europe


Award-winning recognition for our contributions to marine research and teaching

Research highlights and top stories

From first coining the word ‘microplastics’ to leading the UK’s offshore renewable energy consortium and launching world-first maritime cybersecurity facilities, our researchers are making headlines in the pursuit of healthy, resilient oceans.
<p>Plastic pollution in Indonesia</p>
University holds official virtual side event for the 2022 UN Ocean Conference - Plastic pollution
<p>Guide to managing lionfish - targeted removal event</p>
Scientists develop a plan to manage lionfish populations in the Mediterranean
<p> The Antarctic spiny plunderfish (<i>Harpagifer antarcticus</i>). Credit: Lloyd Peck, British Antarctic Survey 1280-720<br></p>
Bluefin tuna tagged for the first time in UK waters with acoustic ‘residency’ tags - FISH INTEL project
<p>Credit: Tom Horton<br></p>
Bluefin tuna tagged for the first time in UK waters with acoustic ‘residency’ tags
<p>Plymouth, UK: Marina Drone Photos, credit:&nbsp;Drone Motion Stock, courtesy of Shutterstock<br></p><p>Centre for Systems Thinking lead image</p>
Centre for Systems Thinking: Ocean, Land and Society - championing a whole-system approach
<p>COP26 logo</p>
COP26: Examining the evidence for global action - discover #PlymouthPerspectives

Marine Institute news

<p> Corals off the coast of Costa Rica before the extreme weather event of 2009 (Credit: Maria Marta Chavarria) <br></p>
Study links cold water shock to catastrophic coral collapse in the Eastern Pacific

An international team of scientists used 25 years of reef survey and sea surface temperature data to document changes in coral cover

29 September 2022
<p>Underwater coral and marine life</p>