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Mining pollution puts nearly 300,000km of world's coastlines at risk, study warns

New research has found that tens of thousands of metal mines and mine waste sites pose a pollution risk to almost 300,000km of the world’s coastline, a threat set to grow as climate change accelerates.

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22 September 2026

Sewage-linked bacteria traced from source to Devon beaches and shellfish farms expose gaps in pollution monitoring

Scientists from Plymouth Marine Laboratory tracked Escherichia coli (E. coli) from source to sea in Plymouth Sound and Lyme Bay (Devon, UK) and found ...

21 September 2026

7 out of 9 Planetary Boundaries breached: PML joins calls for UN security briefing

With seven out of nine Planetary Boundaries now crossed, “now is the time to act” urges PML’s Professor Helen Findlay, who today joined internat...

Fishing trawler in the Irish Sea. Ian Brown

17 September 2026

Scientists aim to answer critical questions around carbon impact of seabed trawling

A first-of-its-kind study in the Irish Sea, involving scientists from PML, is addressing critical evidence gaps around the environmental impact of sea...

16 September 2026

PML welcomes new Honorary Fellow Lowri Mai Griffiths MBE

Lowri Mai Griffiths MBE is an international ocean governance specialist with extensive experience working across global ocean policy processes and re...

15 September 2026

What’s in a label? New study examines whether seafood ecolabels can truly support sustainability in fishing

Can a seafood ecolabel really make fishing more sustainable? New research reveals what makes schemes work for fishers – and ultimately our ocean.

PML Building from a high angle by drone with the Plymouth Sound and drakes island in the distance

11 September 2026

Space science comes to Plymouth for Protecting Our Planet Day

Classrooms across the UK will be watching Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) this November, as it hosts Protecting Our Planet Day for the first time. Th...

28 August 2026

"Expect different" - PML's Prof Tim Smyth on the effects of warming UK waters

PML’s Director of Science Professor Tim Smyth featured on Channel 5 News this week, speaking to Simon Vigar about the Mediterranean octopus thriving...

26 August 2026

Satellites are helping scientists track changes in the health of the ocean - and a new study shows their precision is growing

Scientists at Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) have conducted the largest ever global assessment of the accuracy of satellite data designed to monito...

25 August 2026

Global ocean hits highest temperature on record as El Niño grows

The average surface temperature of the planet’s seas outside the polar regions hit 21.1C (70F) on Saturday, according to figures from the European C...

21 August 2026

Sun, sea and sunscreen: what happens when UV filters enter the ocean?

PhD researcher Anneliese Hodge speaks to BBC World Service about what we know – and don’t yet know – about the environmental impacts of UV filte...

Image: PML scientists joined the research expedition in 2022 that led to the discovery of the mechanism that increases the number of cloud-forming particles in the Arctic atmosphere. Image credit: PML’s Dr Loren Temple.

14 August 2026

As Arctic sea ice melts, it can produce clouds that can reduce warming – but what happens next for the climate?

A new study provides the first real-world evidence of how melting sea ice can boost cloud-seeding particles in the Arctic. But whether more clouds cou...

11 August 2026

Ah, fresh coastal air... or is it? New research reveals coastal sea breeze can worsen air quality - by up to 20%

New research led by PML scientists reveals how sea breeze can have a surprising impact on coastal air quality

10 August 2026

Building trust in AI for better ocean forecasting

The International Telecommunication Union recently published their ‘AI for Good, Innovate for Impact’ interim report 2026, which features a PML-le...

07 August 2026

Over half of people are unaware of environmental effects of sunscreen, study shows

The research comes at a time when the UK has been basking in stunning summer sunshine for several weeks and sunscreen use has likely increased.

06 August 2026

New autonomous monitoring capability demonstrated for floating offshore wind

Scientists test novel sensor integration to help advance autonomous ecosystem assessment and facilitate sustainable offshore wind expansion.

30 July 2026

New report forecasts major impacts on the marine food web as sea temperatures rise and plankton shift

A new study from the UK’s Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP) warns that continued warming of UK waters is likely causing major change...

20 July 2026

State of the South-West’s Seas 2025 report highlights warming waters and octopus boom

Marine heatwaves, rising sea temperatures and a boom in Common Octopus populations are among the standout findings in the newly published State of the...

15 July 2026

Scientists urge caution on Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal as pressure to limit global warming intensifies

Emissions reductions remain the priority as highlighted by a new international Policy Brief

Lymington, Keyhaven Marshes, Solent Maritime SA. Natural England, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

14 July 2026

From mudflats to markets: research reveals strong economic case for investing in marine nature recovery

Findings from the Sea The Value project are presented in this latest report, suggesting that by applying a ‘natural capital assessment’ approach, ...

14 July 2026

Plymouth Marine Laboratory joins UK's new National Research Organisations Group

Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) has joined more than 40 of the UK’s leading national science and research organisations to launch the new National ...

13 July 2026

PML welcomes UK ratification of the High Seas Treaty

A “landmark moment” for ocean protection, with PML experts warning that the real challenge now lies in delivery.

11 July 2026

Record-breaking marine heatwave highlights the importance of long-term monitoring

UK sea temperatures have exceeded 20°C in the past few days

08 July 2026

Heatwave forecast to bring UK seas up to 5°C above average - as octopus bloom highlights changing oceans

“The sheer abundance of octopus is enormous.” As sea temperatures around parts of the UK expected to climb to as much as 5°C above average, PML...