Plymouth Marine Laboratory

18/06/2026

🌡️ The next “super” El Niño could push our warming planet into record-breaking territory - while putting already-stressed ocean ecosystems under even greater pressure.

PML’s Dr Samantha Garrard has written for The Conversation UK about the growing likelihood of a “super” event - now estimated at over 60% - and its potential to damage , trigger widespread , and starve .

🔗 Read the full article - link in the comments below 👇

16/06/2026

🛰️ Detected from space: 20 years of data shows declining in and surrounding waters ⚠️

📰 PML research has attracted media attention this week: a study led by PML's Dr Gavin Tilstone and Dr Peter Land - harnessing 20 years of - has revealed a significant long-term decline in across large parts of the north-east .

The study raises concerns about the future health of marine , and the ocean’s ability to absorb and sequester . Link in the comments below 👇

Dr Tilstone said: “It has been encouraging to see the attention that this research has received in the media. The findings highlight a serious issue that deserves urgent consideration. Marine primary production underpins the health of the ocean, and studies like this help us to understand how rapidly our marine environment is changing and the scale of the challenges that we face. PML is committed to developing solutions to mitigate the negative impacts of such changes.”

Image description: Ocean Colour Satellite image of the UK and north-east Atlantic for September 2021, showing patterns in ocean colour due to phytoplankton, sediment, dissolved organic matter and seawater conditions. Full image caption and credit below. Pure water looks blue; phytoplankton blooms appear green or brown-red when they are dense; suspended sediment appears whiteish/yellow; and harmless coccolithophore blooms appear brighter turquoise. The image uses enhanced ocean-colour processing, meaning colours are adjusted to help distinguish features more clearly rather than showing the ocean in ‘true colour’. Copernicus Sentinel 3A+B OLCI Data. Enhanced ocean colour composite image for 2021-09-01 – 2021-09-07 processed by NEODAAS.

08/06/2026

: Thank you so much to Baroness Jenny Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party of England and Wales), Fleur Anderson MP of Putney (The Labour Party) and Lord Godfrey John Bewicke-Copley (Crossbench, UK House of Lords) for joining us today to discuss how tackling upstream is essential for protecting - and our wider .

We organised the session with our friends at Blue Marine Foundation and the National Oceanography Centre to share the latest science on 'Catchment to Coast'.

The main takeaways from the session:

🏡 Integrated action is essential: Coastal problems can only be solved through a whole land–sea approach. While science and agencies recognise this, legislation remains fragmented and evidence shows pressures are still increasing, particularly under .

🫧 CO₂ reduction alone is not enough: While reducing is essential, managing and pollution from land to sea is also critical to limit , , and , and to build coastal .

🌳 are not enough on their own: Nature-based approaches support and resilience but are not yet proven at scale to reduce nutrient or carbon runoff. Pollution must be addressed at source on land.

👩‍🔬 Evidence underpins effective action: Long-term monitoring and research are critical to understand trends, seasonality, and what works - and we highlighted the importance of sustained investment in programmes such as the . Cuts to monitoring increase the risk of decisions being made without sufficient evidence when it matters most.

Thank you to PML's Jennifer Lockett, Elin Meek, Prof Helen Findlay and Prof Andy Rees for their work and efforts to make this session happen!

08/06/2026

🌊 Can withstand ?

Today is : this year themed ‘Strong Marine Protected Areas for Our ’, and in this new video PML's Dr Liz Talbot explains how - a new, free tool - can help safeguard against a rapidly changing .

Find out more and access ASPACE🔗 https://pml.ac.uk/news/strengthening-marine-protected-areas-in-a-rapidly-changing-ocean/

ASPACE has been built with, and for, those whose decisions shape the future of the ocean. It includes step-by-step guidance designed for non-technical users.

💡 ASPACE (Assisted Planning Addressing Climate Effects) has been developed by Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), in partnership with the University of Valencia, University of Essex, the University of York, and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), as well as key end-users around Europe.

ASPACE has been further supported by NERC: Natural Environment Research Council, INSITE NORTH SEA, Horizon Europe and AXA Investment Managers.

07/06/2026

is one of the world’s most geographically distinctive countries – a long, narrow stretch of land extending over 4,000km along the .

As one of the longest north–south countries on Earth, its vast coastline spans a remarkable range of marine environments but also makes it particularly vulnerable to the impacts of coastal 👇

PML’s Dr Keila Guillen Oñate has recently returned from Chile, where she shared PML’s latest research on public perceptions of mitigation measures for coastal light pollution.

06/06/2026

📢 Exciting news from the lab! We're delighted to share that Dr James Clark has been appointed Head of Group for Environmental Intelligence at PML.

Read more about the expertise, leadership and vision he'll bring to the role in our latest article 👇

Congratulations to Jim on this well-deserved appointment 👏

https://pml.ac.uk/news/pml-announces-new-head-of-group-for-environmental-intelligence/

05/06/2026

We are one of the world’s most significant hubs for marine research 🌊

The brings together globally recognised expertise to better understand the ocean and tackle some of the biggest challenges facing our planet - from climate change and pollution to sustainable ocean management.

Through collaboration between:

🔗 Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML)

🔗 University of Plymouth

🔗 Marine Biological Association

…our alliance is driving pioneering science, innovation, and real-world impact.

🎥 Watch our new 1-minute film for a snapshot of our shared mission 👇

04/06/2026

🌡️ As parts of the experienced record-breaking temperatures last week, the impacts of are becoming increasingly apparent.

In our new -focused edition of the PML newsletter, discover the latest from our scientists and their work to understand, monitor and respond to a rapidly changing ocean.

💻 Read in your browser here: https://5liu3.r.sp1-brevo.net/mk/mr/sh/6rqJ8GoudeITQjrwwBDisGOiqmZ/XxTBEzsheWBa

📮Subscribe for future e-newsletters straight to your inbox here: https://pml.ac.uk/newsletter/

02/06/2026

"The potential outcomes could be even more severe than projected, and the uncertainty around timing and thresholds is not a reason to delay, but an argument for action now."

PML’s Professor Helen Findlay writes for Mongabay.com about the growing concerns surrounding the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation ( ) – a vast system of ocean currents that play a crucial role in regulating climate, weather, and marine ecosystems - and which is shifting due to climate change, and at risk of collapse.

Read the thought piece here 🔗

When a scientist says, “We don’t know yet,” it can sound like a shrug. In reality, it often means the opposite: We are worried enough to be careful. The public can reasonably ask why some climate risks, especially tipping points, don’t arrive with alarm and immediate action. George Monbiot r...

01/06/2026

Case of the Sunday scaries last night? 😬 That might be your sign to apply for this wonderful new role with PML Applications - closing date this Friday! 👇

https://pml-applications.co.uk/careers/