An international team of scientists has taken a major step toward understanding one of Earth’s most important yet underexplored groups of organisms: diatoms. Scientists from the Marine Biological Association (MBA), including Senior Research Fellows Dr Katherine Helliwell and Dr Glen Wheeler, as well as researchers Yousef Touhami and Dr Trupti Gaikwad have joined more than … Read more
The Marine Biological Association (MBA) is saddened to learn of the passing of MBA Fellow and long-standing Member John Spencer, LRIC, BSc, PGCE, AMIQA, Mem. MBA, PP2, PHF, whose distinguished career in marine and environmental science spanned more than three decades and whose commitment to education and public service continued throughout his retirement. John worked … Read more
Last month the National Marine Biological Library supported students from the Plymouth branch of Eat That Frog. Eat That Frog provides specialist post-16 and adult training, enabling learners to develop their skills and overcome barriers. One of their key programmes is to provide post-16 students with work placement experiences in a variety of professional fields, … Read more
C. Kirsty Andrews | Octopus being harassed by cuckoo wrasse The Marine Biological Association (MBA) has released new findings from the second major scientific study documenting an unprecedented surge, or “bloom”, of common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) off the southwest coast of the UK since 2025. The event is the largest recorded in at least 75 … Read more
The MBA is proud to welcome Dr. Martin Stelfox as a new Fellow of the Marine Biological Association (FMBA). Dr Stelfoxis a marine biologist, conservation leader, and founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Olive Ridley Project (ORP), an international conservation charity dedicated to protecting sea turtles and their habitats. Over the past two decades, he … Read more
This five-year anniversary underscores the strength and longevity of the partnership and its growing impact on both regional and international stages;demonstrating the power of collaboration in tackling some of the biggest challenges facing our ocean – discover what we’ve achieved together in that time. Bringing together the internationally renowned expertise of Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), … Read more
Excellence in plankton science: Sixth NMBAQC zooplankton ring test hosted at MBA The sixth official zooplankton component exercise of the NMBAQC (Northeast Atlantic Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control) scheme NMBAQC – NMBAQC has successfully wrapped up, continuing its tradition of scientific collaboration and skills benchmarking. Hosted by the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey at the … Read more
A new economic analysis has shown that sequencing the DNA of all complex life in the UK and Ireland could deliver up to almost £3 billion in benefits to the economy over the next 30 years, with wide‑ranging impacts across agriculture, conservation, and research and innovation.
Defra recently published the findings of a joint project between the Marine Biological Association (MBA), Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) and the Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN), reviewing the current landscape for marine social and economic data.
Looking for the perfect book to curl up with this winter? If you love the ocean, marine life and the stories behind our ocean, these three titles – reviewed in The Marine Biologist magazine – are essential additions to your reading list. Plus, MBA Members enjoy exclusive discounts when purchasing through the publishers!
The Marine Biological Association
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The Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom is a registered charity in England and Wales (1155893), and is a company limited by Royal Charter (RC000865). The Marine Biological Association conducts, promotes and supports scientific research into all aspects of life in the sea.