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Marine heatwaves and octopus outbreaks

This week, PML’s Professor Tim Smyth spoke to Anna Foster on BBC Radio 4 about the increase of marine heatwaves observed in the western English Channel, and the octopus bloom not observed in these waters for around 75 years.

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12 August 2025

Eco-friendly or eco-threat? The environmental risks of natural and semi-synthetic fibers

A new publication co-authored by two PML PhD Researchers, Charlotte Woodhouse and Hayley McIlwraith, calls for a re-evaluation of how we view “natur...

08 August 2025

Environmental studies urgently required before Ocean Carbon Capture can go large-scale, scientists warn

New paper highlights critical knowledge gaps into the impacts of direct ocean carbon capture and storage (DOCCS) technology.

04 August 2025

National Oyster Day - but not all oysters are welcome...

Today (5th August) is National Oyster Day, but not all oysters are welcome. Discover PML’s research on the Pacific Oyster – Crassostrea gigas – ...

Offshore windfarm. Nicholas Doherty | Unsplash

01 August 2025

New method to evaluate ecological impact of offshore activities

A recently published study from the University of Aberdeen and Plymouth Marine Laboratory has set out a new approach to help evaluate the ecological i...

30 July 2025

Only 0.5% of 90,000 oil slicks reported over five-year period, analysis finds

90,000 oil slicks – only 0.5% reported. PML’s Dr. Elizabeth C. Atwood has made headlines today in concerning new analysis that reveals the massive...

22 July 2025

How plastic pollution may influence antimicrobial resistance

New study reveals an alarming number of mechanisms throughout the life-cycle of plastic that could enhance or spread antimicrobial resistance.

21 July 2025

PML’s Prof. Frost selected for high-level policy role to help protect the global ocean

We are delighted to share the news that PML’s Prof. Matt Frost has been appointed as the new Co-Lead for the Ocean Panel Expert Group.

17 July 2025

PML Announces Departure of Director of Science to Lead New Marine Science Centre in the UAE

Professor Steve Widdicombe will become an Honorary Fellow after more than 30 years of service

Looking towards the Mew Stone on the SW Coastal Path

15 July 2025

New South West Marine Ecosystems report published

This comprehensive report on the state of the marine ecosystems around the South West, including contributions from PML scientists, gives a wonderful ...

14 July 2025

Harvest time at world’s first co-located seaweed farm and offshore windfarm

Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) is leading the science on the North Sea Farm 1 project.

10 July 2025

ProBleu Catalogue Joins UNESCO-IOC Blue Thread Network

ProBleu’s innovative online ocean and water literacy catalogue has been officially accepted into the Blue Thread Network; a global initiative led by...

09 July 2025

Are sewage spills and coastal winds contributing to airborne microplastics?

Researchers used sewage and weather data and satellite monitoring to highlight a potential hidden source of microplastic pollution

03 July 2025

Progress at UNOC but major challenges remain: highlights from Nice

The 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) saw 55 Heads of State and Governments along with 15,000 participants from science, business and civil ...

02 July 2025

Landmark new research funded to shape the future of “Marine Artificial Structures”: from oil and gas platforms to offshore wind structures

New project: ValMAS (Value of Marine Artificial Structures) is a PML-led £5.6 million transdisciplinary research project set to transform how offshor...

01 July 2025

NERC science powers £3.3 billion boost to UK offshore wind: with support from PML expertise

A new study commissioned by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has revealed that public investment in environmental science has delivered...

01 July 2025

Harnessing plankton research to inform next generation climate models

An international publication led by Plymouth Marine Laboratory highlights how upgrading current plankton models is critical to understanding the scale...

Wendell Sea, Southern Ocean. 66North | Unsplash

27 June 2025

Tiny ocean migrants play a massive role in Southern Ocean carbon storage

New study reveals for the first time that zooplankton migration contributes significantly to carbon sequestration in the Southern Ocean—a process ov...

Snakeslock anemone. Peter Corbett via flickr, CC BY 2.0.

26 June 2025

Light threat is not so light for some static marine organisms

New study reveals harmful influence of artificial light at night on the immobile species, the snakelocks anemone. This beautiful sea creature provides...

25 June 2025

Shaping the future of coastal autonomy

Today, national and international experts from science, policy and industry came together at Plymouth Marine Laboratory to help shape the future of co...

Courtesy of the NERC funded Deep Links Project - Plymouth University, Oxford University, BGS, JNCC

23 June 2025

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...

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