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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 South-West’s Seas 2025 report. Produced by the South-West Marine Ecosystems (SWME) programme, with key contributions from PML scientists, the annual report provides a comprehensive assessment of the region’s marine environment.

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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...

08 July 2026

What is AMOC? And what is the North Atlantic ‘cold blob’? PML’s Dr de Mora breaks down the science

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) may not be a household name – and neither might the North Atlantic ‘cold blob’ – but th...

03 July 2026

Hundreds of jellyfish wash ashore Southwest beaches - what is causing such large blooms?

Following a mass jellyfish stranding witnessed yesterday [2nd July 2026] in Cornwall, PML scientists explain why jellyfish blooms happen, what brings ...

02 July 2026

Parliamentarians take to our lab - and the seas - to discover how ocean research supports environmental decision-making

Yesterday, a group of cross-party UK parliamentarians joined us in the laboratory and set sail aboard RV Plymouth Quest to gain practical, experience-...

30 June 2026

RESEARCH CRUISE: PML scientists chase mystery ocean gases cooling and "cleaning" our planet

As the need to understand our climate – and our future climate – becomes increasingly urgent, PML scientists set sail on a major research expedi...

Plankton. Bryony Squires, Plymouth Marine Laboratory

27 June 2026

Decline in plankton across North East Atlantic sends stark warning for ocean health

A new study, involving scientists from PML, found there were no habitats assessed as being of ‘Good Environmental Status’ in a region stretching f...

Greenwich Park, heatwave 2022. CC BY-SA 2.0, Alisdare Hickson

24 June 2026

PML scientists contribute to significant UK climate risk assessment, warning of accelerating impacts

Scientists from PML have contributed to the Fourth UK Climate Change Risk Assessment, a recently published major independent technical report that del...

20 June 2026

Blueprint for a climate-resilient ocean future: Orkney Islands research points a way forward

The MSPACE report shows how balance can be found between ocean conservation and economic development in a changing climate.

19 June 2026

Innovation underwater: expanded testing environment supports UK marine autonomy

A demo of Smart Sound Connect Subsurface was hosted at PML earlier this week

18 June 2026

A ‘super’ El Niño has the power to devastate fishing – and leave seals and sea lions starving

PML’s Dr Samantha Garrard has written for The Conversation UK about the growing likelihood of a “super” El Niño event developing in the Pacific...

11 June 2026

PML joins global call to place ocean at heart of COP31 climate action

An open letter has been signed by more than 150 world leaders, scientists, and institutions.

11 June 2026

Detected from space: 20 years of data shows declining photosynthesis in UK and surrounding waters

A new study by scientists at Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) has revealed a significant long-term decline in ocean productivity across large parts o...

08 June 2026

PML scientists contribute to UN ocean assessment warning of compounding threats but also pathways towards a sustainable future

This week the third World Ocean Assessment was launched which includes major contributions by PML scientists. This assessment is the only global integ...

08 June 2026

Can Marine Protected Areas withstand climate change?

As the world marks World Ocean Day 2026 under the theme ‘Strong Marine Protected Areas for Our Blue Planet’, PML’s Dr Liz Talbot explains exactl...

05 June 2026

PML announces new Head of Group for Environmental Intelligence

It was announced this week that Dr James Clark has been appointed Head of Group for Environmental Intelligence at Plymouth Marine Laboratory.