The University of Portsmouth has officially joined Marine Science UK (MSUK) as a founding member, helping to establish a new national voice for marine science.
The "umbrella" organisation was set up with the goal of shaping government policy, advancing marine science, and driving collective action across the UK marine science community.
Portsmouth joins other leading UK universities and research-oriented organisations such as the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), Marine Biological Association (MBA) and Plymouth Marine Laboratory.
The University brings extensive expertise to the alliance, notably through its pioneering work at the Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) which sits within the School of the Environment and Life Sciences.
Portsmouth's research focus on marine ecosystem restoration, biodiversity and biogeochemistry will help inform MSUK's strategic priorities. The new partnership ensures that its world class research translates into scalable, real-world impact for society and the blue economy and cements its position as a national leader in coastal ecology and seascape restoration.
The IMS is a marine station with an international reputation for providing high-quality marine research and teaching. It's been at the forefront of marine biology for more than 70 years. Located within metres of the sea on the shore of Langstone Harbour, it provides access to the varied marine ecosystems of the Solent European Marine Site.
Two major UK-wide sea restoration projects are based at the IMS - the Blue Marine Foundation's Solent Oyster Restoration Project , and the Solent Seascape Project , funded by the Endangered Landscapes and Seascapes Programme . They aim to restore multiple habitats such as oyster reefs, seagrass meadows, saltmarsh and birds, to reconnect and revive our ailing coastal waters.
Portsmouth researchers are also studying how tiny microbes affect the movement of nutrients and carbon through the open ocean and coastal environments - findings that could help us better predict future climate change.
The ocean is in crisis, and tackling it requires more than individual institutions acting alone. Joining Marine Science UK as a founding member is a signal of intent, that Portsmouth is committed to being part of a coordinated, national effort to restore what we've lost."
Professor Joanne Preston, Institute of Marine Sciences
Professor Joanne Preston , a leading expert in coastal restoration ecology, based at the Institute of Marine Sciences, said: "The ocean is in crisis, and tackling it requires more than individual institutions acting alone. Joining Marine Science UK as a founding member is a signal of intent, that Portsmouth is committed to being part of a coordinated, national effort to restore what we've lost. The work we do here at the IMS on oyster reefs and seagrass meadows shows that recovery is possible, but it needs scale. That's what MSUK gives us."
The research conducted at IMS is multidisciplinary. Strong research links exist between the School of the Environment and Life Sciences , the University of Portsmouth Environmental Network (UPEN) and the wider research community.
The University is also a founding member of the UK Blue Carbon Forum , formed in 2021 to address the important role of blue carbon in mitigating the current ecological and climate emergency.
