New research from the Marine Biological Association (MBA) aims to shed light on one of the greatest mysteries of the natural world – where do sharks go to give birth? Sharks have inhabited the world’s ocean for over 400 million years, surviving mass extinctions and shaping marine ecosystems. However, little is known about their reproductive … Read more
Backed by a £3.75M award from the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA), the UK Government’s new high-risk, high-reward funding agency, the CANARY project, led by researchers at the Marine Biological Association (MBA) and the University of Plymouth (UoP), will revolutionise how we forecast climate tipping points. CANARY’s transformative approach focuses on plankton as the … Read more
Since its founding in 1884, the Marine Biological Association has been home to many pioneering female scientists who have made groundbreaking contributions to the scientific community. The MBA takes great pride in its diverse team of female scientists, whose contributions continue to shape the future of marine research. “I am thrilled to follow in the … Read more
The Marine Biological Association (MBA) has been a key part of a new international collaboration focused on studying the movement ecology of sharks. In 2024, this research initiative reached new heights, with significant advancements in the number of sharks tagged. The project, which involved tagging and tracking blue sharks (Prionace glauca) in the eastern North … Read more
The Marine Biological Association (MBA) will play a key role in an ambitious new project exploring the consequences of floating offshore wind farms (FLOW) on life throughout the marine food chain. The FRONTLINE project will employ state-of-the-art technologies – including autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), satellite remote sensing, digital video aerial surveys and seabird and fisheries … Read more
Meet Ethan, a final year undergraduate student in marine biology at the University of Plymouth. Ethan is investigating whether amphipods, specifically Gammarus chevreuxi, can be used to detect toxins from harmful marine algae, including those that cause ‘red tide’ blooms. These tiny Crustaceans, commonly found in brackish waters along the UK and European coasts, could … Read more
Major funding has been allocated to support the next generation of biology and environmental researchers. The investment of more than £500 million from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will support doctoral students to develop their skills and experience across biological sciences, engineering and physical sciences and natural and environmental sciences. The Marine Biological Association (MBA) … Read more
7.5 million nautical miles, 18 times to the moon and back or 655 times the size of the Great Wall of China – this is the new total distance covered by the world’s largest marine monitoring programme, the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey. Operated by the Marine Biological Association, Plymouth, the CPR Survey collects … Read more
Global warming could increase the threat posed to whale sharks from large ships, according to a new study published in Nature Climate Change. Researchers from the Marine Biological Association (MBA) and University of Southampton predict that increased ocean temperatures will see this already endangered species driven into new habitats crossed by busy shipping lanes. The … Read more
The Marine Biological Association (MBA) is delighted to announce the opening of new laboratories which will further enhance vital planktonic research. The Plankton Taxonomy Laboratory is the new home of the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey which is one of the world’s longest running and most geographically extensive marine ecological surveys. The Garfield Weston Foundation kindly agreed … Read more
The Marine Biological Association
The Laboratory,
Citadel Hill Plymouth,
Devon
PL1 2PB, UK
The Marine Biological Association conducts, promotes and supports scientific research into all aspects of life in the sea. We're working with our ever-growing membership to provide a clear and independent voice on behalf of the marine biological community