"The Ocean is subjected to an increasing number of pressures globally and global-scale challenges demand a global-scale response. I am so proud therefore to support PML in its international work, whether that means ensuring our science is used to inform global policy and address key challenges or utilising science-diplomacy to build networks and develop international partnerships and networks’ "
Prof Matt Frost is a senior leader with over 20 years’ experience in the charity and research sector and heads up the International work at PML.
Matt works extensively on international matters specialising in networking and science diplomacy and Chairs / sits on a number of international and national committees. Examples include being Co-Lead for the Ocean Panel Expert Group of the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy and chair of the UK National Decade Committee. Matt also chairs the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (the UKs primary marine climate advice body), as well as the MCCIP Overseas Working Group. Matt also works with the UK Overseas Territory governments including a project to produce the first-ever climate assessment across all the UK Overseas Territories.
Matt also chairs and led on the establishment of the World Association of Marine Stations (WAMS), working with global partners to bring together marine station directors (with UN IOC-Unesco) in support of the Sustainable Development Goals. Matt has worked on many marine issues including climate change and biodiversity with a wide range of stakeholders across different countries and cultures including international bodies such as the United Nations, embassies, global secretariats (e.g. the Commonwealth), G7, investors and Global NGOs.
With a focus on international policy, Matt has led on engagement with UN Conventions and other international policy frameworks, leading, chairing and speaking at official events and panels at Conference of Parties (COPs) and other meetings for the UNFCCC, Convention on Biological Diversity and others. He is also a contributing to author on numerous global policy reports and assessments.
At the national level Matt works with government departments, UK parliament and other policy bodies, and has given oral evidence to numerous select committee hearings, led on consultation responses and provided science-policy training (including internationally). He has also taught on university courses in the UK and elsewhere on science-policy and other issues in addition to supervising Master’s projects and PhDs including on best practices for effective management of the marine environment in UK overseas territories.
Matt has previously worked for the civil service, as a lecturer at the University of Plymouth and for 20 years was Deputy Director and Head of Policy and Engagement at the Marine Biological Association.
Matt originally graduated with a 1st class degree in marine biology before completing a PhD programme looking at large-scale patterns in sandy beach macrofauna. Matt is also a trained as a commercial diver. He has published over 160 journal papers, book chapters, reports and articles, collaborated with hundreds of scientist as lead on state of seas assessments and given over 100 invited conference talks.
Selected Publications
- Quieroz,….Frost, M.…et al. (2025) The opportunity for climate action through climate-smart Marine Spatial Planning. npj Ocean Sustainability. 4, 26 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-025-00129-2.
- MCCIP (2024). How can the UK marine fisheries and aquaculture sectors support Net Zero? MCCIP Policy Brief. Frost, M and Buckley, P (eds.). DOI: https://doi.org/ 10.14465/2024.pol1.net
- Knights, A., Lemasson, A., Frost, M. & Somerfield, P. (2024) Rethink plans for the world’s ageing oil and gas platforms? Nature. Vol 627:34 – 37. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-00645-0
- Knights, A…Frost, M. et al (2024) Developing expert scientific consensus on the environmental and societal effects of marine artificial structures prior to decommissioning Journal of Environmental Management. 352: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119897
- Knights, A. M…Frost, M. et al (2023) To what extent can decommissioning options for marine artificial structures move us toward environmental targets? Journal of Environmental Management. Vol 350. (2024) 119644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119644.
- Frost M, Buckley P, Queirós, A, Talbot, L (Eds) MCCIP (2023). Futureproofing our ocean though climate-smart spatial management of UK fisheries, aquaculture and conservation. Summary Report for Policy-Makers (SPM). MCCIP, Lowestoft. doi: https://doi.org/10.14465/2023.msp01.spm
- Jennifer Wright, Ann Avouris, Matthew Frost & Sally Hoffmann (2022) Supporting academic freedom as a human right: challenges and solutions in academic publishing, The International Journal of Human Rights. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13642987.2022.2088520
- Frost, M.T. et al, (2021). Marine journals, maritime territorial disputes and science-diplomacy. Journal of the Marine Biological Association. 101, 217-219. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315421000461
- Sims. D.W., Frost, M.T. (2019) Trade in mislabeled endangered sharks. Science. 364, 743-744.
- Frost, M.T., Baxter, J., Buckley, P., Dye, S. & Stoker, B. (2017) Reporting marine climate change impacts: lessons from the science-policy interface. Environmental Science & Policy. 78: 114-120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2017.10.003
- Broszeit,…, Frost, M., et al (2017). What can indicators of Good Environmental Status tell us about ecosystem services?: Reducing efforts and increasing cost-effectiveness by reapplying biodiversity indicator data. Ecological indicators. 81: 409-442
- Frost, M.T, Bayliss-Brown, G., Buckley, P., Cox, M., Dye, S., Sanderson, W. G., Stoker, B., Withers Harvey, N. (2016). Climate change and the implementation of marine biodiversity legislation in the UK. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 26: 576-595.
Consultations (selection since 2015 only)
A selection of consultations are provided where I have provided written submissions and / or given evidence to select committees / contributed to high-level panels:
- G7 FOSI working Group (invited contributor)
- House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology: The Relationship between EU Membership and the Effectiveness of Science, Research and Innovation in the UK (2015)
- Consultation on Sites Proposed for Designation in the Second Tranche of Marine Conservation Zones (2015)
- Consultation on Marine Strategy Framework Directive: Proposals for UK Programme of Measures (2015)
- House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology: Leaving the EU: implications and opportunities for science and research inquiry (2016)
- Environmental Audit Committee, Sustainable Seas inquiry (2018)
- EOOS Strategy and Implementation Plan (2018)
- Consultation on Third Tranche of Marine Conservation Zones (2018)
- Consultation on Environmental principles and accountability for the environment (2018)
- Consultation on Sustainable fisheries for future generations (2018)
- Consultation on Guidance on the Implementation of Plan S (2019)
- Marine strategy part one: UK updated assessment and Good Environmental Status (2019)
- Highly Protected Marine Areas (2019)
- IOC consultation on UN Decade of Ocean Science societal outcomes (2019)
- GCSE in Natural History – advice to the Department of Education (2020)
- Consultation on Marine Strategy Part Two: UK updated monitoring programmes (2020)
- Policy briefing: The science behind MPAs (2021)
- Defra Consultation on Highly Protected Marine Areas (2022)
- Defra Consultation, Marine Net Gain (2022)
- Advice for “climate change policy’ Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology briefing (2022)
- Defra Consultation, Target proposals for biodiversity in the sea (2022)
- Defra Consultation on Nature Recovery Green Paper (2022)
- Defra consultation, Joint Fisheries Statement (2022)
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