Story | 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-based insight into the role of ocean science in addressing some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
The visit was organised with the Parliamentary Knowledge Foundation (PKF) – a new, independent, apolitical and non-profit organisation launched by CEO Jamie Anderson and in its first year of delivery.
The Foundation aims to give MPs and Peers insight into complex policy areas through real-world, experience-based learning, moving beyond traditional briefings by providing opportunities to see research, innovation and expertise in action. Jamie Anderson, CEO of PKF, explains:
“Knowledge comes from experiences. Inspired by my work in conflict zones, global disaster areas, and across multiple polar expeditions, I’ve seen how profoundly direct experience shapes our understanding.”
“Policymakers are no different. Those who have seen, heard, and directly engaged with the environments, challenges, and organisations they work on behalf of are far better placed to make informed, empathetic, and effective decisions.”
Upon their arrival in Plymouth, the parliamentarians – consisting of six Members of Parliament and a Member of the House of Lords – were welcomed by PML’s Chief Executive Icarus Allen aboard RV Plymouth Quest, before setting out to sea with PML scientists and technical staff.
Image: The group of parliamentarians board RV Plymouth Quest.
Image: Lord Godfrey Cromwell salutes as the RV Plymouth Quest leaves the harbour.
Once onboard, they gained hands-on experience of marine research, including collecting seawater and plankton samples. This routine sampling forms part of the Western Channel Observatory – the world’s longest near-continuous marine dataset, with records dating back to 1903.
Image: Graham Leadbitter MP (SNP Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey) and Caroline Voaden MP (Liberal Democrat for South Devon) don safety hats and gather sampling bottles.
Image: Catherine Fookes MP (Labour, Monmouthshire) (left) with Chris Law MP (Scottish National Party (SNP), Dundee Central) taking seawater samples from the CTD. CTD is an acronym for ‘Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth’, and is the primary instrument used to profile the ocean. Conductivity measures salinity, while pressure indicates depth.
In-situ measurements are undertaken weekly at coastal station L4 and fortnightly at open shelf station E1 using research vessels operated by Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the Marine Biological Association.
Without such long-term datasets, it would be hard to comprehend the changes that are happening in the ocean, highlighted just last week in a new study co-authored by PML scientists, that used 60 years of data to demonstrate that vast swathes of plankton are in decline across the North East Atlantic. This is an alarming trend for species who form the base of the marine food web and an important issue to bring to policy makers attention.
Returning to land, parliamentarians took their water samples back to the laboratory to see first-hand how they are analysed to assess the health of the ocean.
They joined Zooplankton Analyst Amanda Beesley and Phytoplankton Apprentice Bryony Squires in the Microscope Lab to explore the hidden world of plankton; discovering just how much microscopic life exists within a single drop of seawater.
Image: Lord Godfrey Cromwell (Crossbench, House of Lords) with PML’s Zooplankton Analyst Amanda Beesley smiling whilst peering into the microscope.
They also learned how monitoring these tiny organisms, often described as ‘sentinels of change’, provides vital insights into how our ocean is changing.
PML’s Zooplankton expert Amanda Beesley said:
“A single drop of seawater can contain hundreds to millions of plankton, depending on the location and conditions. These tiny organisms play an enormous role in marine ecosystems, and by monitoring changes in their abundance and composition over time, we can better understand the health of our ocean.”
“We’ve been collecting and recording plankton samples here at the laboratory on a weekly basis – whenever it is safe for us to get out on the boat – with zooplankton sampling since 1988 and phytoplankton sampling since 1992.”
Image: PML’s Bryony Squires with Caroline Voaden MP (Liberal Democrat for South Devon) looking closely at the planktonic life in just a single drop of water.
Image: Fascinated by what she is seeing, Caroline Voaden MP takes a photo to remember the experience.
Image: Chris Law MP (Scottish National Party (SNP), Dundee Central) looking into the microscope, with the plankton he is observing through the lens mirrored in the computer screen behind him.
Chris Law MP (Scottish National Party (SNP), Dundee Central) said of the visit:
“Today has been both enlightening and educational. The experience at Plymouth Marine Laboratory has gone beyond our expectations and aspirations, giving us a much deeper understanding of the science, technology and expertise that underpin our knowledge of the marine environment. We are very grateful to PML for hosting us and for sharing such valuable insight, which we will take back with us into our roles in Parliament.”
Beyond plankton monitoring, the parliamentarians also explored how PML scientists measure the many interconnected processes that influence ocean health.
They joined PML’s Dr Tom Jordan and Dr Liz Atwood to discover how scientists combine measurements taken at sea with satellite observations from space to monitor coastal and ocean health.
Image: Dr Tom Jordan (left) and Dr Liz Atwood (to his right) seated next to Bambos Charalambous MP (Labour Southgate and Wood Green) pointing at the earth observation data on screen.
Using above-water radiometry – measuring how light interacts with the ocean – Tom and Liz demonstrated how optical monitoring of water quality can improve our understanding of changing marine environments.
A particular focus during the visit was the ‘catchment-to-coast’ approach – recognising that what happens on land does not stop at the shoreline.
In the Carbon Lab, they joined Professor Helen Findlay, a leading global expert in the consequences of carbon dioxide emissions – from global warming to ocean acidification.
Taking their seawater samples from the RV Plymouth Quest earlier that day, the parliamentarians processed the water through the equipment in the Carbon Lab, to measure levels of carbon.
Image: (Left) Elizabeth “Lizzi” Rachel Collinge MP (Labour, Morecambe and Lunesdale) with Chris Law MP (Scottish National Party (SNP), Dundee Central) speaking right PML’s Professor Helen Findlay. Just last year, Professor Findlay published a landmark study that revealed ocean acidification – driven by carbon dioxide emissions – had crossed its Planetary Boundary.
Image: Some of the scientific equipment in the Carbon Lab, used to measure levels of carbon in samples.
Image: Graham Leadbitter MP (SNP Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey) with Professor Helen Findlay, looking at the carbon levels measured from the seawater samples.
Professor Findlay spoke about the effects of carbon emissions and ocean acidification on the UK specifically, and referenced her study showing the North Atlantic Ocean – bordering the west of the United Kingdom and Ireland – contains more anthropogenic CO2 than any other ocean basin globally, threatening key marine species and entire food webs.
She also explained how ocean acidification is generally worse and progressing faster in coastal areas, driven by factors such as natural upwelling and mixing, and nutrient pollution and runoff from land, rivers and estuaries – and how that could affect the UK.
Image: Catherine Fookes MP (Labour, Monmouthshire) observing the carbon levels.
Meanwhile, in the Nutrient Lab, Professor Andy Rees, PML’s Ocean Challenge Lead for Marine Pollution, dived a little deeper into the issue of nutrient pollution, and the other effects that are felt in estuarine and coastal waters.
Excess nutrients from runoff, agriculture and wastewater treatment can cause over-enrichment in both freshwater bodies (rivers, lakes, ponds), estuaries and in the ocean – which might cause blooms of algae and bacteria during a process known as eutrophication. This uses up the oxygen in the water, causing deoxygenation, and makes it difficult for other species, including fish and other important microorganisms, to survive.
Excess phosphorus, in particular, is the leading cause of freshwater quality failure in England, driving severe eutrophication (harmful algal blooms) in UK rivers.
Lucinda Derbyshire, PML’s nutrient analyst, then demonstrated the use of the laboratory analyser to measure levels of nutrients in the seawater samples that were collected earlier by the parliamentarians.
Image: Professor Rees speaking to Caroline Voaden MP (Liberal Democrat for South Devon) about the different equipment in the Nutrient Lab, which allows them to measure for nutrient pollution.
Images: Lord Godfrey Cromwell and Elizabeth Rachel Collinge MP (Labour, Morecambe and Lunesdale) processing the seawater samples.
Andy’s research on pollution has taken him across the globe, but closer to the laboratory, he is the Principal Investigator of the AgZero+ project, a major five-year £13.8 million research programme focused on investigating solutions to pollution. The programme brings together a community of researchers and farmers to test innovative farming systems – to balance the need to produce nutritious food with reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, while at the same time enhancing biodiversity and soil health. Andy said:
“AgZero+ aims to support the UK’s transition towards home-grown food production that is sustainable, carbon-neutral and has a positive effect on nature. Some agricultural practices have become a problem for our environment – but it doesn’t have to be that way. And AgZero+ aims to demonstrate that whilst offering solutions to reduce contamination of our waterways.”
“Source-to-sea management recognises that activities far inland – from agriculture, cities and industries – have far-reaching consequences downstream in rivers, estuaries and coastal waters, affecting fisheries, tourism and coastal communities. Equally, changes in coastal and marine areas can impact upstream businesses and communities.”
The visit concluded with a tour of PML’s Smart Sound Plymouth facilities, where discussions focused on the latest developments in marine technology and autonomy.
The tour was led by Professor James Fishwick, Head of Innovation at Smart Sound Plymouth, who showcased how cutting-edge autonomous technologies are enabling the collection of more environmental data than ever before possible – and how this information can support evidence-based decision-making.
Image: PML’s Professor James Fishwick demonstrating the range of autonomous scientific technology owned by PML and Smart Sound Plymouth, with the PML Pioneer shown on the left screen and the scientific data buoys displayed on the right.
Image: PML’s Professor James Fishwick pictured presenting an ecoSUB. PML owns four ecoSUBs – autonomous underwater vehicles – equipped with sophisticated sensors designed to provide crucial scientific data. The subs are able to perform multi-vehicle synchronized surveys with accurate underwater positioning and can communicate with the PML Pioneer.
Professor Fishwick said:
“What we can do now compared to 5–10 years ago is significant. We’re using new sensors and new ways of monitoring the marine environment, with data available 24/7 -something we’ve never had before. Even during storms, when it’s unsafe to be at sea, autonomous systems can continue collecting data, allowing us to understand and monitor the ocean in ways that simply weren’t possible before.”
After a busy day, scientists and parliamentarians came together for refreshments and an informal Q&A session, providing further opportunity to exchange questions and insights. The discussions highlighted future capability needs and opportunities for marine science to address key environmental challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
PML’s Head of Impact, Jennifer Lockett, who has led PML’s endorsement and engagement with the Parliamentary Knowledge Foundation, commented:
“It has been a brilliant day hosting parliamentarians at the laboratory and showcasing the breadth of PML’s science and technology in action. I’m delighted to have led PML’s involvement with the Parliamentary Knowledge Foundation, which has provided an invaluable opportunity to demonstrate how marine observations, technology and research can be translated into knowledge that supports real environmental action, benefiting the UK and beyond. As a member of the PKF Advisory Board for the Energy and Environment Scheme, I’ve also been pleased to help shape next year’s programme, and we look forward to welcoming more MPs to PML.”
PML has been an early endorser of the Foundation, becoming a delivery partner and supporting its ‘Energy and Environment’ module alongside partners across industry, academia and policy. The initiative forms part of a wider effort to strengthen understanding between policymakers and experts working on complex environmental challenges.
PML’s Chief Executive Icarus Allen said:
“The challenges facing our ocean are complex, interconnected and constantly evolving. By bringing policymakers closer to the science, we can help build a shared understanding of how evidence, monitoring and innovation support effective decisions for the future of our marine environment.”
Image: PML’s Chief Executive Professor Icarus Allen speaking to the group at the laboratory.
“We would like to thank the Parliamentary Knowledge Foundation for this opportunity, and thank the Parliamentarians who took the time to join us, spend time with our scientists, and learn more about our research.”
The Parliamentarians in the group included Catherine Fookes MP (Labour, Monmouthshire); Chris Law MP (SNP, Dundee Central); Elizabeth “Lizzi” Collinge MP (Labour, Morecambe and Lunesdale); Caroline Voaden MP (Liberal Democrat, South Devon); Bambos Charalambous MP (Labour, Southgate and Wood Green); Graham Leadbitter MP (SNP, Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey); and Lord Godfrey Cromwell (Crossbench, House of Lords).
The visit also included Jamie Anderson, CEO of the Parliamentary Knowledge Foundation (PKF), alongside PKF staff Beverly Ann Donald and Hattie Turner, with videographer Josh Tarr documenting the visit.
