Projects per year
Overview
Profile summary
I am a marine scientist working in marine conservation, marine management and policy. I have a strong record of achievement in social and economic research methods to define the marine social-ecological system at a variety of scales. To extend the impact of my research I work closely with statutory nature conservation agencies, NGOs, government departments and international organisations.
Additional information
I lead the Marine Social Science Research Unit.
Academic qualifications
PhD in Marine Conservation and Environmental Economics. “The Value of Marine Conservation”, University of Plymouth
2007 → 2011
MSc Coastal and Ocean Policy (with distinction), University of Plymouth
2002 → 2003
BSc (Hons) Marine Geography (second-class honours, division one), University of Wales
1995 → 1999
External positions
Economic Advisory Panel for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)., DEFRA
2026 → …
Steering Committee for the South Coast Marine Recovery Project., The Wildlife Trusts
2026 → …
lead author for the Multi-Year Assessment on Monitoring Biodiversity & Nature’s Contributions to People., International Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
2023 → …
Expert of the UN Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects., United Nations
2023 → 2025
Board Member, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership
2021 → …
NERC UKRI Environmental Data Service Oversight Group., Natural Environment Research Council
2021 → …
Member of the Local Stewardship Council, North Devon World Surfing Reserve
2021 → …
Advisory Network Member, Natural Environment Research Council
2019 → 2023
Marine Natural Capital Ecosystem Assessment Advisory Group Member, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (UK)
2018 → 2023
Expertise related to 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. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 1 No Poverty -
SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 14 Life Below Water
Fingerprint
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Nature restoration feasibility studies for mud and biogenic reef
Rees, S. (PI - Principal Investigator) & Douglas, J. (RA - Research Assistant)
15/07/24 → 8/09/24
Project: Research
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Preventing a LIONfish invasion in the MEDiterranean through early response and targeted REmoval
Rees, S. (PI - Principal Investigator) & Kleitou, P. (RA - Research Assistant)
LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity 2016.
1/07/17 → 29/07/22
Project: Research
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A Natural Capital Approach to Celtic Seas Pelagic Fisheries - Review of current economic, environmental, and social evidence for the Celtic Sea and Western Channel Pelagic fishery
Rees, S. (PI - Principal Investigator), Bibaud, R. (RA - Research Assistant) & Ashley, M. (PI - Principal Investigator)
20/11/23 → 31/03/24
Project: Research
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Mapping the benefits and beneficiaries of natural capital assets from the Celtic Sea and Western Channel pelagic Fishery
Rees, S. (PI - Principal Investigator), Ashley, M. (RF - Research Fellow) & Bibaud, R. (RA - Research Assistant)
17/07/24 → 17/01/25
Project: Research
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Blue Biosphere Natural Capital Accelerator
Rees, S. (PI - Principal Investigator), Mullier, T. (RA - Research Assistant) & Ashley, M. (PI - Principal Investigator)
7/01/22 → 31/07/22
Project: Research
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A review of blue carbon credit projects' socio-economic activities
Tavonvunchai, N., Niner, H. J., McQuatters-Gollop, A. & Rees, S. E., 1 Aug 2026, In: People and Nature. 8, 8, p. 2748-2762 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure) -
Linking deep-sea biological communities (biotopes), ecological processes and ecosystem services: a systematic literature review
La Bianca, G., Howell, K. L., Conway, J., Lombard, A. T., McQuaid, K., Niner, H. J., Sink, K., Upton, M. & Rees, S., 28 Apr 2026, In: Ecosystems and People. 22, 1, 2652430.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Operationalising equity in ecosystem-based fisheries management
Bibaud, R., Mullier, T., Ashley, M., Niner, H., Stewart, L. & Rees, S., 1 Oct 2026, In: Marine Policy. 192, 107188.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure) -
40 priority questions to advance understanding of the risks and opportunities of UK marine heatwaves
Jacobs, Z., Smith, K. E., Kajtar, J. B., Smale, D. A., Moore, P. J., Stephenson, F., Burrows, M. T., Rowland, C., Renshaw, R., Oliver, S., Jakins-Pollard, M., Palmer, F. I., Kloker, A., Baker-Austin, C., Townhill, B., Rees, S., Coulthard, S. & Popova, E., 17 Dec 2025, In: npj Ocean Sustainability. 5, 1, 1.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Downloads (Pure) -
A collaborative approach to marine species tracking: Insights from the Fish Intel Acoustic Telemetry Network
Hall, A. E., Stamp, T., Davies, P., Woillez, M., Laurans, M., Gonse, M., Couturier, L. I. E., Blanpain, O., Frangoudes, K., Quillérou, E., Graner, E., Reubens, J., Muñiz, C., Hawkes, L. A., Witt, M. J., Horton, T. W., Hooper, T., Pender, R., Quemeneur, E. & Abjean, M. & 21 others, , 6 Nov 2025, In: Ecological Solutions and Evidence. 6, 4, e70148.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile7 Downloads (Pure)
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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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
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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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Data from: A Marine Natural Capital Asset and Risk Register – Towards securing the benefits from marine systems and linked ecosystem services
Rees, S. (Creator), Ashley, M. (Creator) & Mullier, T. (Creator), University of Plymouth, 17 Jan 2022
DOI: 10.24382/5006, https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/fose-datasets/23/
Dataset
File
Theses
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The Value of Marine Conservation
Rees, S. (Author), Rodwell, L. (Director of Studies (First Supervisor)), Attrill, M. (Other Supervisor) & Austen, M. (Other Supervisor), 2012Student thesis: PhD
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