Centre for Marine Biology and Conservation Science (CMACS)
Leading interdisciplinary research for a sustainable ocean future
The Centre for Marine Biology and Conservation Science (CMACS) unites the University of Plymouth's long-standing and internationally recognised research in marine biology and marine conservation science.
By providing an inclusive and supportive atmosphere for knowledge exchange and relationship development, CMACS drives ambitious, innovative, interdisciplinary, world-class marine research.
CMACS is an exciting space that creates opportunities for marine scientists to collaborate with other scientists, disciplines and stakeholders, forming transdisciplinary partnerships to tackle some of the worlds biggest challenges.
Professor Emma Sheehan
Co-Director of CMACS and Professor of Marine Ecology
By uniting our internationally recognised expertise in marine biology and conservation science, CMACS creates exciting new opportunities for collaboration and innovation, enabling research that will make a meaningful difference to the future of our oceans.
Dr Nicola Foster
Co-Director CMACS and Lecturer in Marine Biology
Our mission:
- Drive collaborative, inclusive and interdisciplinary marine research
- Create opportunities for early career researchers
- Disseminate marine biology and conservation science research excellence
- Promote marine biology and conservation science research at a regional, national and international level.
Research themes
Can the seas ensure food security to feed a growing world population?
From the health and nutrition of farmed fish, crustaceans and bivalves, to marine conservation, fish tracking, habitat studies and long-term ecological monitoring, research at the University of Plymouth is exploring how all of these diverse elements help contribute towards responsible marine and freshwater food production and, in doing so, how they support coastal economies and national food security.
Research team
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![Professor Emma Sheehan Professor of Marine Ecology]( "Professor Emma Sheehan")
Professor Emma Sheehan
Professor of Marine Ecology
Co-Director of CMACS
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![Dr Nicola Foster Associate Professor in Marine Ecology]( "Dr Nicola Foster")
Dr Nicola Foster
Associate Professor in Marine Ecology
Co-Director of CMACS
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![Professor Martin Attrill Professor of Marine Ecology]( "Professor Martin Attrill")
Professor Martin Attrill
Professor of Marine Ecology
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![Professor Sian Rees Associate Head of School - Research]( "Professor Sian Rees")
Professor Sian Rees
Associate Head of School - Research
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![Professor Kayleigh Wyles Professor of Environmental Psychology]( "Professor Kayleigh Wyles")
Professor Kayleigh Wyles
Professor of Environmental Psychology
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![Dr Benjamin Ciotti Associate Professor of Marine Biology]( "Dr Benjamin Ciotti")
Dr Benjamin Ciotti
Associate Professor of Marine Biology
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![Professor Kerry Howell Professor of Deep-Sea Ecology]( "Professor Kerry Howell")
Professor Kerry Howell
Professor of Deep-Sea Ecology
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![Professor David Bilton Professor of Aquatic Biology]( "Professor David Bilton")
Professor David Bilton
Professor of Aquatic Biology
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![Professor John Spicer Professor]( "Professor John Spicer")
Professor John Spicer
Professor
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![Professor Clare Embling Associate Head of School for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion]( "Professor Clare Embling")
Professor Clare Embling
Associate Head of School for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
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![Professor Abigail McQuatters-Gollop Associate Head of School - International]( "Professor Abigail McQuatters-Gollop")
Professor Abigail McQuatters-Gollop
Associate Head of School - International
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![Professor Mark Briffa Associate Head of School (Teaching and Learning)]( "Professor Mark Briffa")
Professor Mark Briffa
Associate Head of School (Teaching and Learning)
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![Professor Melanie Austen Professor of Ocean and Society]( "Professor Melanie Austen")
Professor Melanie Austen
Professor of Ocean and Society
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![Professor Ralph Fyfe Professor]( "Professor Ralph Fyfe")
Professor Ralph Fyfe
Professor
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![Professor Richard Preziosi Head of School]( "Professor Richard Preziosi")
Professor Richard Preziosi
Head of School
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![Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS Professor in Marine Biology]( "Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS")
Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS
Professor in Marine Biology
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![Professor Michael Cunliffe Professor of Marine Microbiology]( "Professor Michael Cunliffe")
Professor Michael Cunliffe
Professor of Marine Microbiology
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![Mr Aaron Barrett Lecturer in Autonomy]( "Mr Aaron Barrett")
Mr Aaron Barrett
Lecturer in Autonomy
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![Dr Alexander Wilson Associate Professor in Marine and Freshwater Biology]( "Dr Alexander Wilson")
Dr Alexander Wilson
Associate Professor in Marine and Freshwater Biology
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![Dr Angela Stevenson Associate Professor]( "Dr Angela Stevenson")
Dr Angela Stevenson
Associate Professor
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![Dr Claire Szostek Lecturer in Marine Conservation]( "Dr Claire Szostek")
Dr Claire Szostek
Lecturer in Marine Conservation
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![Dr Fabio Favoretto Lecturer in Marine Biology and Scientific Diving]( "Dr Fabio Favoretto")
Dr Fabio Favoretto
Lecturer in Marine Biology and Scientific Diving
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![Dr Joan Alfaro Lecturer in Marine Biology]( "Dr Joan Alfaro")
Dr Joan Alfaro
Lecturer in Marine Biology
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![Dr Keiron Fraser Associate Professor (Education) in Marine Conservation]( "Dr Keiron Fraser")
Dr Keiron Fraser
Associate Professor (Education) in Marine Conservation
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![Dr Lucy Turner Associate Professor in Marine Biology]( "Dr Lucy Turner")
Dr Lucy Turner
Associate Professor in Marine Biology
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![Dr Lynda Rodwell Associate Lecturer]( "Dr Lynda Rodwell")
Dr Lynda Rodwell
Associate Lecturer
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![Dr Manuela Truebano Associate Professor in Marine Ecophysiology]( "Dr Manuela Truebano")
Dr Manuela Truebano
Associate Professor in Marine Ecophysiology
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![Dr Matthew Perkins Lecturer in Marine Conservation]( "Dr Matthew Perkins")
Dr Matthew Perkins
Lecturer in Marine Conservation
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![Dr Miriam Reverter Lecturer in Marine Biology]( "Dr Miriam Reverter")
Dr Miriam Reverter
Lecturer in Marine Biology
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![Dr Nicola Quick Lecturer in Marine Conservation]( "Dr Nicola Quick")
Dr Nicola Quick
Lecturer in Marine Conservation
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![Dr Oliver Tills Associate Professor of Marine Biology]( "Dr Oliver Tills")
Dr Oliver Tills
Associate Professor of Marine Biology
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![Dr Pete Cotton Associate Professor in Ecology]( "Dr Pete Cotton")
Dr Pete Cotton
Associate Professor in Ecology
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![Dr Robert Puschendorf Associate Professor in Conservation Biology]( "Dr Robert Puschendorf")
Dr Robert Puschendorf
Associate Professor in Conservation Biology
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![Dr Sarah Gall Lecturer in Marine Conservation]( "Dr Sarah Gall")
Dr Sarah Gall
Lecturer in Marine Conservation
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![Dr Sarah Lane Lecturer in Behaviour and Evolution]( "Dr Sarah Lane")
Dr Sarah Lane
Lecturer in Behaviour and Evolution
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![Dr Simon Ingram Associate Professor of Marine Conservation]( "Dr Simon Ingram")
Dr Simon Ingram
Associate Professor of Marine Conservation
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![Dr Thomas Davies Associate Professor of Marine Conservation]( "Dr Thomas Davies")
Dr Thomas Davies
Associate Professor of Marine Conservation
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![Dr Tom LETESSIER Lecturer in Marine Conservation]( "Dr Tom LETESSIER")
Dr Tom LETESSIER
Lecturer in Marine Conservation
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![Professor Tracy Aze Professor of Marine Paleobiology]( "Professor Tracy Aze")
Professor Tracy Aze
Professor of Marine Paleobiology
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![Dr Bryce Stewart Associate Professor]( "Dr Bryce Stewart")
Dr Bryce Stewart
Associate Professor
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![Dr Vikki Cheung Project Manager]( "Dr Vikki Cheung")
Dr Vikki Cheung
Project Manager
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![Amy Cartwright Project Support Officer]( "Amy Cartwright")
Amy Cartwright
Project Support Officer
Marine conservation news
Study provides unprecedented assessment of seabed diversity off the Isles of Scilly
The new findings are the result of work by experts in marine conservation and monitoring from the University of Plymouth
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‘Damaging the Antarctic damages us all’ – scientists warn of the potential impacts of coastal freshening
Scientists at the University and the British Antarctic Survey investigated how shifts in ocean salinity could affect marine species
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Are subsea oil and gas pipelines a previously unrecognised source of ocean microplastics?
New research has estimated that legacy plastics from oil and gas infrastructure could contribute tonnes of microplastics to UK waters each year
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University leads new report highlighting health of the UK’s plankton communities
Our researchers have worked with partners across the country on a new study for the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership
- More related news
Natural England
Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs
Association of IFCA
Marine Management Organisation
Offshore Shellfish Ltd
The Fishmongers' Company
Environment Agency
Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Plymouth City Council