Overview
Organisation profile
Research Group Lead: Professor Emma Sheehan
The Marine Conservation Research Group investigates the consequences of human activity on marine biodiversity and its ecosystem services in order to provide scientific evidence and management advice for the benefit of marine ecosystems and society.
Research Areas
- Marine conservation
- Marine ecology
- Marine biology
- Marine plastics
- Marine pollution
- Sustainable fisheries
- Marine protected areas
- Blue carbon
- Marine climate change impacts
- Ecosystem restoration
- Ecosystem services
- Marine policy and governance
- Marine social science
- Offshore renewable energy impacts
- Environmental impacts
- Restorative aquaculture
- Blue green finance
- Marine vertebrates
- Animal behaviour
- Ecophysiology
- Biogeography
- Evolution
UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Our work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 14 Life Below Water -
SDG 15 Life on Land
Fingerprint
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Profiles
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Helen Agosti
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences
- Marine Conservation Research Group
- Psychology and the Natural World
Person: Doctoral Student (D00)
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Dr Joan Alfaro
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences - Lecturer in Marine Biology
- Marine Conservation Research Group
Person: Academic (Research)
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Underwater Image Enhancement Based on Neural Rendering
Bazazian, D. (PI - Principal Investigator) & Howell, K. (CoI - Co-Investigator)
1/05/23 → 31/10/23
Project: Internal
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Fish Intel
Attrill, M. (CoI - Co-Investigator), Sheehan, E. (PI - Principal Investigator), Rees, S. (CoI - Co-Investigator), Firth, L. (CoI - Co-Investigator), Ciotti, B. (CoI - Co-Investigator), Fraser, K. (CoI - Co-Investigator) & Wilson, A. (CoI - Co-Investigator)
1/02/21 → 31/05/23
Project: Research
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Working title: Jersey Blue Carbon Title: The blue carbon sequestration potential of Jersey’s coastal habitats
Attrill, M. (CoI - Co-Investigator), Sheehan, E. (PI - Principal Investigator) & Rees, S. (CoI - Co-Investigator)
1/09/21 → 30/09/23
Project: Research
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A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside a tangle of tentacles
Stewart, B. & Langmead, O., 23 Jan 2026, The Marine Biologist.Research output: Other contribution
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Assessment of enforcement strategy highlights opportunities for more effective deterrence in a large-scale no-take MPA
Kerry, C., Collins, C., Gule godage, L., Ashford, O. S., Metcalfe, K., Weber, S. B. & Letessier, T. B., 16 Mar 2026, In: ICES Journal of Marine Science. 83, 3, 17 p., fsag034.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure) -
Behavioral responses of goose-beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) to simulated military sonar
Southall, B., Schick, R., Cioffi, W., DeRuiter, S., Foley, H., Harris, C., Harshbarger, A., Joseph, J., Margolina, T., Nowacek, D., Quick, N., Swaim, Z., Thomas, L., Waples, D., Webster, D., Wisse, J. & Read, A., 7 Jan 2026, In: Ecosphere. 17, 1, 29 p., e70501.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure)
Activities
- 1 Organising, hosting and/or delivering a workshop, seminar, course
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COP 30 UN Climate Change Conference
Willis, K. (Participant) & Beaumont, K. (Organiser)
18 Nov 2025Activity: Event organisation or participation › Organising, hosting and/or delivering a workshop, seminar, course
Press/Media
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Explained: The proposed ban on bottom trawling in Scotland's MPAs | The National
23/08/24
1 Media contribution
Media story
Datasets
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Ecosystem Service and Natural Capital Indicator Dataset for Plymouth Sound National Marine Park (UK): Observed and Aspirational Indicators with Evaluation Criteria
Beaumont, K. (Creator), Ashley, M. (Contributor), Mullier, T. (Contributor) & Rees, S. (Creator), University of Plymouth, 1 May 2026
DOI: 10.24382/3021eb91-df82-4d6b-82d0-caa31ffb4a5a, https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/fose-datasets/65/
Dataset
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Ramshaw et al., 2026, Contrasting patterns of kelp-associated bacterial community dynamics between farmed and wild Saccharina latissima throughout an aquaculture season
Ramshaw, J. (Creator), King, N. (Creator), Rees, S. (Creator), Sheehan, E. (Creator), Brown, R. (Creator) & Smale, D. A. (Creator), figshare, 30 Apr 2026
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.32134576
Dataset
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Unravelling Historical Carbon Records of Zostera marina Seagrass Meadows: High-Resolution Analysis, Dating and Methodological Evaluation of Deep Sediment Cores
Cramp, J. A. (Creator), Fisher, J. K. (Creator), Millward, G. E. (Creator), Rees, S. E. (Creator), Blake, W. (Creator), Parry, M. (Creator) & Attrill, M. (Creator), ZENODO, 3 Oct 2025
Dataset