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Mapping the Gaps: New Global Assessment Reveals Stark Biases in Ocean Biodiversity Data

Despite decades of ocean exploration, we still lack basic answers to one of the most fundamental ecological questions: where is marine life found, and why? A new study highlights just how uneven our knowledge of ocean biodiversity really is and why it matters.

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UK Houses of Parliament. Shreyas Sane | Unsplash

20 June 2025

Reflections of a POST Fellow

UK Houses of Parliament. Shreyas Sane | Unsplash At the start of 2025, PhD researcher with the University of Plymouth and Plymouth Marine Laboratory, ...

16 June 2025

Plymouth is to be the national centre for marine autonomy

Leveraging its unique strengths in marine autonomy, the city is already home to leading initiatives such as the PML co-led National Centre for Coastal...

13 June 2025

PML Joins Global Call for Enhanced Protection and Restoration of Blue Carbon Ecosystems at UNOC3

Prof Ana Queirós is part of UN Ocean Decade Global Ocean Blue Carbon Programme (GO-BC) who made the intervention

12 June 2025

Challenges for High Seas Treaty implementation highlighted at UNOC3

PML’s Prof Matt Frost chairs a roundtable of international experts as BBNJ ratifications gather momentum

Crashing waves on a dark foreboding ocean from above

10 June 2025

Singular Mission to Chart Atlantic's Deep-Sea Biodiversity in focus at UNOC3

More than 40 international researchers joined a gathering in Nice to discuss Atlantic Ocean deep sea life mapping initiative, led by PML’s Prof Kerr...

09 June 2025

Ocean acidification more advanced than previously thought

New research co-led by PML, NOAA, CIMERS OSU and the University of Maryland provides new evidence on the severity of ocean acidification.

Yanna on board the Plymouth Quest vessel

08 June 2025

Staff Spotlight: Dr Yanna Alexia Fidai - Earth Observation and Remote Sensing Scientist

Meet Dr Yanna Alexia Fidai, whose research explores how climate change, pollution and changing currents have created the perfect storm for massive sar...

Sea bed and sea fan with a little fish underwater

05 June 2025

PML championing Deep Sea Biodiversity and Sustainable Ocean Planning at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference

A delegation of PML scientists and other experts will be in Nice for the June event

Under the ocean surface showing rays of light

04 June 2025

International mCDR Blue Paper launched: the Ocean’s climate role grows – but at what cost?

The newest Ocean Panel–commissioned paper outlines a set of principles for the responsible development and governance of marine carbon dioxide remov...

31 May 2025

"Butt out": How one PhD researcher is tackling the world’s most common form of litter

Today (Saturday 31st May) is ‘World No Tobacco Day’, and to mark the occasion, we’re shining a spotlight on Natalie Smith – PhD researcher at...

29 May 2025

New study reveals global ‘Ocean Darkening’ threatens marine life

A new study co-led by PML’s Professor Tim Smyth has revealed a 21% reduction in sunlight zones vital for life in the sea.

28 May 2025

Update from the lab: marine heatwave conditions continue to escalate in UK waters

Our data from the western English Channel has shown almost continuous marine heatwave conditions for the past two years, and, with the latest unusuall...

24 May 2025

New project funded to boost early detection of algal blooms for cleaner, safer drinking water

It was announced this week that Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority for England and Wales, has awarded funding for the PEDAL project: ‘Pr...

23 May 2025

Project to revolutionise deep sea understanding using AI awarded pioneering grant from Bezos Earth Fund

The grant supports innovative AI-driven solutions to tackle urgent environmental challenges

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23 May 2025

Accelerating climate action through marine spatial planning: the opportunity lies ahead

A new PML-led study identifies key enablers to implementing climate-smart Marine Spatial Planning.

19 May 2025

The Spring bloom illuminates the Western English Channel

As the UK enjoys warmer weather and longer days, our scientists are also enjoying seeing the vibrant plankton communities blossom in UK waters through...

09 May 2025

BLOG: PML’s Dr Saskia Ruhl describes life onboard the One Ocean Expedition

PML’s Dr. Saskia Rühl, a specialist in digital marine biology and machine-learning techniques for data classification, is currently sailing onboard...

09 May 2025

Knot your average vessel... Plymouth Quest gets upgraded for a new era of marine science

Our beloved research vessel, the Plymouth Quest, has been in Penzance for the last few months undergoing some impressive upgrades to help us continue ...

08 May 2025

Think you know your mixoplankton from your phytoplankton?

Outdated terms are clouding our view of marine ecosystems – it’s time to update the vocabulary, writes Professor Kevin Flynn.

06 May 2025

“Strategically placed” offshore structures could enhance ecosystem resilience

A new study led by Dr Molly James from Plymouth Marine Laboratory as part of the DREAMS project has introduced a novel approach to assessing the marin...

02 May 2025

Safeguarding marine animals amid the UK’s offshore wind energy expansion

PML’s Dr Peter Miller’s research on the relationship between ocean fronts and biodiversity hotspots has been cited in the 2024 Offshore Wind Repor...

Adriatic Sea platform on which the 10 day test of some of the most popular scientific optical sensors (radiometers) was conducted.

01 May 2025

Major intercomparison of optical measurements set to revolutionise data processing for satellite ocean colour validation

A team of ocean optics experts, led by Plymouth Marine Laboratory, evaluated the accuracy of above-water optical sensors, using a community-developed ...

29 April 2025

Impacts of mixed microplastics on marine life

Innovative study indicates that a mixed microplastic blend may be substantially more toxic than a single polymer on a key marine food-web species.