Marine Pollution

Science topics & groups

Science group

Source to sea

The ocean, the land and freshwater ecosystems are closely interlinked and interdependent. Through applying a source-to-sea approach in our research we recognise this and aim to address knowledge gaps in support of the management of these connected ecosystems and tackling pollution at the source, ups...

Sea front with artificial lights being reflected in the water

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Light and sound pollution

Our research aims to understand the widespread and pervasive effects of artificial light at night (ALAN), and sound pollution, on coastal and marine wildlife.

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Biogeochemical cycles

The ocean plays a dominant role in the Earth’s carbon and nutrient cycles. These cycles are intrinsically linked together and sustain life in the ocean and form a key part of our climate system.

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Water-related diseases

Water-related diseases affect millions of people each year worldwide. PML is monitoring the movement and spread of disease pathogens to support adaptation and reduce risks for human and ecosystem health under climate change.

Hand holding plastic litter from a beach

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Plastic pollution

Plastic pollution is a growing threat to the world’s oceans, posing a serious risk to the health of marine life, ecosystems and society.

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Oil pollution

PML routinely monitors areas to detect if oil pollution occurs, so timely action can be taken.

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Cleaner seas

The marine environment is impacted by human activities which have variable effects on the health of the ocean and its capacity to provide for us. Whilst some impacts are very visible, others are less obvious, and whilst some are benign, others are very harmful.

WADIM: Water-Associated infectious Diseases in India: digital Management tools
WADIM aims to develop a multi-layered digital tool to map sanitation conditions and occurrence of disease and changes therein, especially in the event of flooding due to monsoon rainfall or natural disasters.
TYRE-LOSS: Lost at Sea – where are all the tyre particles?
Tyre particles are increasingly recognised as a potentially major source of microplastic pollution, yet limited data exists on their accumulation and risks in the marine environments. The TYRE-LOSS project is tackling this critical knowledge gap.
BIO-PLASTIC-RISK: Biodegradable Bioplastics – Assessing Environmental Risk
Biodegradable bioplastics (BBPs) offer promising solutions to the global plastic pollution challenge. However, our understanding of their fate in the natural environment and potential environmental effects is limited. The Bio-Risk Plastic Project brings together experts from various fields to compre...
ProBleu: Promoting ocean and water literacy in school communities
ProBleu aims to mobilise and engage students, school communities, and the wider community across the EU and associated countries to enhance understanding, stewardship, and literacy about oceans and waters, with a focus on restoring them by 2030 and growing the Network of European Blue Schools.
AgZero+ Towards sustainable, climate-neutral farming
Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) is a partner in a major five-year £13.8 million research programme, named “AgZero+’, to support the UK’s transition towards home-grown food production that is sustainable, carbon-neutral and has a positive effect on nature.
FRONTAL: Satellite FRONTs for detection of Anthropogenic plastic Litter
Fronts in coastal and oceanic regions are hot-spots for rich and diverse marine life, where floating marine debris also tends to accumulate. FRONTAL is developing a prototype for identifying areas at risk of accumulating plastic pollution to aid management of these areas.

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Related News

06 May 2026

MEDIA: PML’s research on ‘Mighty mangroves’ in Asia Research News 2026

Plymouth Marine Laboratory’s research on mangrove ecosystems has been featured in Asia Research News 2026, highlighting ongoing collaborations between the UK and Malaysia.

PML scientists deploy innovative plastics experiment in the Arctic
Scientists from Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) are examining how plastics and plant-based plastic alternatives break down in one of the planet’s most extreme environments.
Not all icebergs are equal – and that matters for the climate
As the world’s largest and most famous icebergs break up and melt in Antarctica, new research shows what impact they have on the ocean and its ecosystems.
PML hosts the South West Marine Ecosystems Annual Conference
This years’ conference, titled ‘Past & Future Change’, brought together marine researchers, conservationists, regulators and citizen scientists to share knowledge, strengthen collaborations and inform future monitoring and management of the South West marine environment.
Democratising data: how improving Big Data accessibility is helping to protect crucial ecosystems
Increasing the value and use of Big Data is a big topic in the information age. This article outlines how accessibility is being addressed, highlighting the different ways in which PML is optimising use of the Open Data Cube system, and how this...