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The power of plankton: Advancing our understanding of the role and value of plankton as marine natural capital

In this new Marine Science blog, scientists from Cefas, the University of Plymouth, and Environment Agency discuss new research by the Pelagic Natural Capital project (PelCap), which is helping to monitor the impact of human activities on plankton health in …

Safeguarding Global Coral Trade: The Power of a New Visual Guide for Border Inspections

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: biodiversity, International, Monitoring, Science, Vulnerable species, Wildlife trade
Pieces of hard coral during import check at Heathrow. Photo credit. Border Force.

It’s a dark, damp evening in February 2023 when staff from UK Border Force’s CITES team are called to Heathrow’s Animal Reception Centre to inspect a shipment of hard coral. A mismatch between the CITES permit and its packing list …

Expanding the concept of 'blue carbon’: Cefas science on coastal ecosystems and their role in tackling climate change

turtle swimming above seagrass

The importance of mangroves and other blue carbon ecosystems in mitigating the impacts of climate change is once again high on the agenda at this year’s Nature, Land-use, and Oceans Day at the UN Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai. …

Collaboration and progress through Cefas’ Climate, Health, and Environment Resilience Programme in the Middle East

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: adaptation, Climate Change, International, Middle East, Pollution, Uncategorized

Our Climate, Health, and Environment Resilience Programme (CHERP) has recently kicked off another year of activity in the Middle East. With the UN Climate Change COP28 currently underway in the region, we are taking a look back at what we …

Too hot to handle? Marine climate change risks and opportunities for adaptation in the Gulf

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: adaptation, Climate Change, marine protected areas, Policy, Science
Sunset in the Persian Gulf

As world leaders meet at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai this week, Cefas Middle East Programme Director Will Le Quesne, discusses the challenge of climate change facing the …

Learning lessons from (almost) a decade of MPA monitoring in English waters: where are we now and what happens next?

Posted by: , and , Posted on: - Categories: marine protected areas, Monitoring, Uncategorized

In recent years it has become clear, both in the UK and globally, that interventions are urgently needed to protect our precious marine wildlife and safeguard the resources provided to us by the sea. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are tools …

What do a Communications Officer, a Shellfish Scientist and a Fish Health Inspector have in common?

Posted by: , and , Posted on: - Categories: Animal Health, biodiversity, Careers, Education, Field Research, Fisheries, Science

Answer: They all graduated from a Zoology degree at the University of Exeter in 2016!  With the start of a new academic year, this time often comes with big decisions and a lot of uncertainty. Perhaps you’re making decisions on …

Into the deep: How Cefas science of the deep-sea is exploring uncharted waters

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: biodiversity, Deep-sea, Monitoring, Policy, Science

The deep-sea covers more than 60% of the Earth's surface. Deep-sea ecosystems are amongst the least well understood owing to the combined challenges of remoteness, vastness, and the difficulties of exploring its depths. The ‘deep-sea’ is a catch-all term that …

One year on: Cefas generates new tools and evidence to support marine natural capital programme

Natural capital refers to parts of the natural environment, such as forests, fisheries, rivers, biodiversity, land and minerals, that provide valuable goods and services to society. Much like human capital (labour, skills and experience), recent reviews recognise that natural capital should …

Making waves: recent contributions of Cefas fisheries science for the future of fisheries management in the UK

Fishing net onboard a boat

On Monday 17th July, the UK government’s Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced further steps to deliver a thriving, sustainable fishing industry and healthy marine environment following the UK’s exit from the European Union (EU). As …