Plymouth Marine Laboratory

28/10/2026

Did you see us on ITV News? 👀 What’s happening in the water around ? 🌊

Last night, PML's Dr Gavin Tilstone and Dr Rachel Coppock featured in a dedicated ITV report exploring in , the impact of and on the marine environment, and the importance of monitoring and protecting our waterways.

Dr Tilstone took ITV reporter Marina Jenkins to test water quality in the – where he, and many other PML scientists, test for indicators of pollution, in addition to the nearby rivers and estuaries.

Out in the Sound, he noted lower levels, indicating increased freshwater influence – whether from and land run-off or other influences. Back at the lab, Dr Tilstone analysed some of the samples collected during filming, finding high levels of sediment in the seawater, which can be linked to poor water quality. He said: "You could see on the filter, it was very brown. Now, sediments can absorb different pollutants, so that would have to be further analysed...”

PML's Dr Rachel Coppock then spoke about a wider range of contaminants that can enter the marine environment - explaining that can carry , and land run-off can include from sites.

“We know that when drains get discharged into the ocean, they also bring with it not just the sewage, but also plastics, including microplastics, metals and agricultural pollutants. So, there are a whole host of different contaminants there that will combine along with the sewage.”

This causes further intricacies, in terms of marine pollution, as PML research has previously found that marine can serve as a platform for the selective growth of responsible for in both humans and animals.

Read the full story, and watch the full feature: https://pml.ac.uk/news/media-pml-scientists-feature-on-itv-news-report-investigating-water-quality-and-sewage-pollution/

Surfers Against Sewage I Plymouth Sound National Marine Park I What's On Plymouth I Plymouth Live I Plymouth Hoe Waterfront

26/10/2026

Led by PML's Dr Molly James - a new study finds that 'strategically placed' new protected sites could link 13 existing Pacific deep-sea reserves, boosting modeled larval exchange more than 400-fold!

25/10/2026

⛏️🪨 A global hotspot for commercial : The Clarion–Clipperton Zone (CCZ) is a vast stretch of in the , attracting huge commercial interest with its store of precious materials... 💎

The region - which is roughly the size of Europe, and around 5,000 metres deep - is scattered with nodules; potato-sized lumps of rock rich in , and other metals used in many electronic devices 📱

The area is a major focus for and , with more than 1.1 million km² already licensed for 'exploration'.

To protect from the potential impacts of mining, the International Seabed Authority established 13 ‘no-mining’ reserves, covering nearly two million km².

But are these connected enough to help marine life recover if mining damages surrounding habitats? 🪸

A , led by PML's Dr Molly James, highlights new opportunities to enhance this protection; finding that adding new ‘stepping stone’ reserves could help transform a patchwork of isolated sanctuaries into a functioning safety-net for , as commercial deep-sea moves ever closer.

A fascinating and important new study, more vital than ever with the biodiversity underway in , and the first-ever for the ( ) set to take place January '27.

Read the full story: https://pml.ac.uk/news/study-highlights-new-opportunities-for-marine-protection-in-the-deep-pacific-mining-zone/

23/10/2026

Oh buoy 😕 Storm Austen was giving our L4 autonomous buoy a bit of a shake up this morning!

💡 Our L4 autonomous buoy - about six miles south of - has an array of sensors throughout the water column, measuring temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, pH, turbidity, & more! Above water, the buoy measures radiometry, and a full suite of meteorological sensors in collab with Met Office.

Our Marine Robotics Technologist Ross Sanders said: "When brought its worst in this morning, the L4 data buoy delivered its best - standing resilient in open waters to capture crucial real-time ocean data, when we needed it most!"

21/10/2026

🌳 The forests of the deep: cold-water corals are important reservoirs of - providing vital habitats in the .

These 'ecosystem engineers' can build long-lasting and complex reefs through their calcium carbonate skeletons, or gardens where their branching structures provide shelter and niches for an array of life, supporting critical feeding, spawning, and rearing areas 🪸

support thousands of species in the cold, dark depths of our ocean 🐟

These precious species require our protection if we are to halt and reverse , but they are facing unprecedented threats from and . There's a troubling irony: many cold-water and gardens have been "discovered" through bottom trawling, which can damage or destroy the very ecosystems we need to protect.

But, we can't protect what we don't know is there.

Finding these hidden rich areas is a vital step towards better understanding them, safeguarding their future, and protecting the extraordinary they support.

This is why the project is mapping cold-water corals across the 🗺️

🎥 This incredible footage reveals some of the project team's latest discoveries from the current research expedition onboard Schmidt Ocean Institute's RV Falkor 👇

The cruise is led by Prof. Jose Angel Alvarez Perez from Universidade do Vale do Itajaí | Univali, partner on the Coral Cartography project. Also onboard is fellow project partner Prof Alex Bastos of Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo - Ufes, and PML's Prof Kerry Howell, Coral Cartography project lead, who said:

"Through the UN Ocean Decade Programme, we've brought together deep-sea biology experts from around the Atlantic, and particularly from nations, combining expert ecological knowledge and imagery data with the aim of creating the most comprehensive map of cold-water coral distribution in the ever produced."

"We’re gathering data on which cold water corals live where, using old archived seafloor imagery, and new imagery and physical samples collected on research cruises in the Atlantic over the next 2 years. Our consortium of partners from 12 organisations around the Atlantic are bringing together their observations to make the Coral Cartography project happen."

"This is all about sustainable management of the deep ocean. Once we have these data, we're better able to protect - and prevent of - our cold water coral forests."

The Coral Cartography project has been supported and funded by the G20 Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP).

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16/10/2026

Wow! 🚢 We have a rare and exciting opportunity for a 'Senior Deck & Engineer Technician' to join our friendly, first-class Marine Operations Group. Find out more and apply 👇 https://pml.ac.uk/working-with-us/ -vacancies

13/10/2026

🔵 Scientists have produced a first-of-its-kind assessment showing the coastal regions of Europe which they believe are at greatest risk of harmful light pollution.

22% of the world’s coastlines are impacted by light pollution nightly, affecting ocean life — from the smallest plankton to the great whales —, disrupting natural behaviours and endangering vital habitats. However, light pollution at sea remains almost completely unregulated by national and international policy.

A new study, published in the Ocean & Coastal Management journal, sets out the first framework which can be used to assess whether a region is of Good Environmental Status in terms of light pollution. It found that:

This important work, and the evidence it is based on, is key to providing the evidence and knowledge needed to ensure the impacts of light pollution at sea are fully reflected in any future European legislation.

🔗 Read the study here: https://ow.ly/E90M50ZWaEK
🔗 Many of the authors behind this work are also part of the Global Ocean Artificial Light at Night Network (GOALANN), an endorsed programme led by the Plymouth Marine Laboratory. Learn more about it here: https://ow.ly/bcQ050ZWaEL

12/10/2026

"We are truly in uncharted territory..."

Recent headlines have described the anticipated El Niño as 'unprecedented', 'supersized' and potentially the "strongest in living memory".

But, what exactly is ? Why is this El Niño so strong? And what could it mean for people, wildlife and weather around the world - and here in the ?

PML's Dr Lee de Mora once again breaks down the science in this new explainer article 👇 https://pml.ac.uk/news/what-is-el-nino-how-does-it-work-and-what-will-it-do/

PML’s Dr Lee de Mora explains the science behind El Niño and explores how it could shape weather around the world – and here in the UK.

09/10/2026

🌍 We’ve tackled global environmental challenges before... so - what can we learn from it?

“The success of international action to protect the demonstrates what is possible when science, policy and international cooperation align around a common goal.”

That’s the message from PML’s Thecla Keizer, co-author of a new paper that highlights the 's role in uniting global .

The paper presents scientific and rationales for positioning the ocean as a unifying agenda across the - more timely than ever, with 2026 ushering in all three .

Read the full story and access the paper:

The article, co-authored by PML’s Office for International Affairs, presents scientific and policy rationales for positioning the ocean as a unifying agenda to advance major international environmen

07/10/2026

Scientists provide the evidence needed for action on .

💡 is an increasingly recognised form of marine - but until now, there have been no defined criteria for assessing whether European waters are in “Good Environmental Status” when it comes to light pollution.

A has developed a first-of-its-kind framework to change that.

Researchers used data on light emitted from coastal areas, alongside factors such as seawater clarity, to identify the European waters most at risk.

🔦 Adriatic Sea
🔦 Baltic Sea
🔦 Western Mediterranean
🔦 Parts of the North Sea

The researchers say the evidence is now there to move from understanding the problem to taking action.

Read the full study: https://pml.ac.uk/news/study-highlights-the-european-waters-at-greatest-risk-of-harmful-light-pollution/