PML CHAMPIONING DEEP SEA BIODIVERSITY AND SUSTAINABLE OCEAN PLANNING

PML championing Deep Sea Biodiversity and Sustainable Ocean Planning at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference. A delegation of Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), scientists are currently attending the UN Ocean Conference to help shine a light on deep sea ecosystems and the importance of climate-smart marine spatial planning (CSMSP).

Professor Kerry Howell, Professor of Deep-Sea Ecology, is among the delegation and currently pioneering the use of advances in AI to identify deep sea marine life, and recently selected as one of the inaugural grantees in the Bezos Earth Fund’s AI Grand Challenge).

Prof. Howell is convening a strategic meeting on June 10th, bringing together key partners to discuss the potential for Atlantic scale coordination of activities focused on deep-sea biodiversity.

Kerry said:

“The deep sea plays a crucial role in global climate regulation and biodiversity conservation yet it remains one of our planet’s least understood frontiers, harbouring unique species and habitats, and with potential scientific breakthroughs we can only begin to imagine.

While new technologies and advances in AI are revolutionising our ability to explore and identify deep-sea marine life, we are still only beginning to comprehend the immense value these systems provide to our planet. UNOC is a valuable opportunity to bring together many of the actors in this space and we’re looking forward to galvanising action on increased research and protection for these vital ecosystems.”

Also, attending the event is PML’s Professor Ana M. Queirós, an internationally recognised expert in climate change ecology who has been leading international efforts on how Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) can be leveraged to advance climate change adaptation and mitigation in the Ocean.

Professor Queirós will be speaking on June 12th on European efforts on Sustainable Ocean Planning – a strategic framework designed to guide the responsible stewardship of national marine areas, balancing economic, social, and environmental sustainability, of which climate change adaptation is a key component.

Ana said:

“As climate change shifts where species and habitats are able to thrive, we need flexible ways to protect and manage our oceans more sustainably, inclusively and effectively.  This requires comprehensive involvement of all sectors of the blue economy and society, to co-develop solutions and decision-support tools that address climate change whilst supporting nature and people.”

“By bringing everyone to the table – from Indigenous Peoples, local fishing communities, science, environmental groups to international leaders – the UN Ocean Conference provides an exciting setting to advance the momentum for Sustainable Ocean Planning that can bring together marine sectors such as offshore industry and conservation into solutions that help meet the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.”

“Climate change is already forcing us to rethink how we use our oceans – we need to make sure we’re managing these spaces in ways that serve multiple needs while preparing for future change.”