Marine Conservation Research Group

Investigating the consequences of human activity on marine biodiversity and its ecosystem services
Man fishing in small boat above coral reef. 
The Marine Conservation Research Group investigates the consequences of human activity on marine biodiversity and its ecosystem services in order to provide scientific evidence and management advice for the benefit of marine ecosystems and society.
Within the group, there are several units working in key areas of marine conservation:
Please contact research group leader Dr Emma Sheehan with any queries, or visit our theme pages for specific projects and associated staff for further details.

Our research themes

Image of waves crashing on beach with sun shining
Society and the sea
Montenegro aquaculture
Fishing and aquaculture
Climate change
Blue carbon, climate change and ocean acidification
Shoal of small fish swimming together over seafloor with seagrass, Atlantic ocean.
Marine Protected Areas
Oil Rig with ship at sea during a storm, Copyright: Nightman1965, courtesy of Shutterstock
Extractive industries
Plastic bag in the ocean
Plastics and pollution
Coastal processes research group google earth plugin image
Nature-based solutions
Offshore wind farm at sunset. Image courtesy of Getty Images.
Marine renewables
 

Marine conservation news

A map of the world showing changes in the ocean identified through this project - red areas indicate regions where oceans are getting darker, while blues indicate regions where oceans are getting lighter
Is the ocean getting darker?

New research found 21% of the global ocean experienced a reduction in the depth of its photic zones, home to 90% of all marine life

27 May 2025
 

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