The UK government is turning to the National Oceanography Centre for the scientific advice it needs to manage the country's ocean interests—from offshore wind farms and fishing grounds to tsunami warnings and sea-level defences. This matters because the ocean is not an infinite resource. Fish stocks are being depleted, seabed minerals are being extracted, and climate change is raising sea levels and altering marine ecosystems. The government needs trusted, independent science to set policies that balance economic development—such as marine energy and transport—with protecting the ocean's long-term health. It also needs rapid, expert advice when natural hazards like tsunamis or storm surges threaten coastal communities. If this work succeeds, the UK will be better prepared for marine disasters, more influential in international ocean negotiations, and able to make evidence-based decisions on issues such as marine protected areas and the regulation of autonomous underwater vehicles. The impact will be felt in the resilience of coastal infrastructure, the sustainability of seafood supplies, and the credibility of UK positions at global forums like UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.
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Mankind is increasingly turning to the oceans for vital resources and services, including energy, food, minerals, recreation and transport, while also being increasingly impacted by ocean hazards such as sea-level rise and tsunamis. However, ocean resources are finite and many are being rapidly depleted through human exploitation, while both resources and hazards are being altered by global climate change. Consequently, there is increased interest from society and policy-makers in developing sustainable and responsive approaches to ocean management, underpinned by trusted and robust scientific advice. By NERC's definition, NC-NPG funding supports activities that will strengthen national security, resilience, economic growth and societal benefit through provision of independent scientific and expert advice, or other services required by government and the wider public. NOC's NC-NPG activity is therefore targeted at UK national interests in the ocean, including (a) setting the public policy framework to develop the marine-based economy whilst protecting the ocean's future health, (b) protecting people and economic infrastructure from marine-related disasters, and (c) making sense of and addressing the implications of global environmental changes involving the ocean. To achieve this, NOC will focus NPG activity on the most relevant international and national fora, e.g. representation and support of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO and the UK Marine Science Coordination Committee (MSCC), to ensure cutting-edge science and technology outputs are available to UK Government and international policy-makers. To achieve this, the four FTE of staff effort available for NPG activity will be delivered through dedicated personnel in the NOC International and Strategic Partnerships Office (ISPO), and additional input from >250 science and technology experts drawn from across the organisation as required. NOC's NPG activity will ensure UK Government is able to increase its influence in international affairs relating to the oceans, is well informed about current and emerging ocean issues (e.g. marine robotics and establishment of Marine Protected Areas), and is able to respond promptly and appropriately to natural hazards and disasters.
Adrian Martin (Co-Investigator)Alan Evans (Principal Investigator)Brian King (Co-Investigator)Elaine McDonagh (Co-Investigator)Svetlana Jevrejeva (Co-Investigator)
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