Posted on July 27, 2021
Six new research projects that aim to build a sustainable future for the marine environment, and those whose livelihoods depend on it, were announced today.
Researchers have received a share of £9.2 million from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to investigate how to safeguard the future of the marine and coastal economy, while protecting sea ecosystems.
Coastal communities are facing increased pressures from:
- climate change
- threats to marine wildlife
- flooding.
With the marine economy worth £48 billion, the research will help policy makers sustainably manage the marine environment and economy.
Challenges facing wildlife and communities
One team of multi-disciplinary researchers will investigate how and where meadows of seagrass can be restored in UK coastal waters. Seagrass is important in supporting marine wildlife, capturing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, and improving the productivity of fisheries.
However, many seagrass meadows have been destroyed in recent years, caused by:
- disease
- disturbance
- pollution.
Another project will investigate how the UK can better protect coastal communities from flooding and coastal erosion. Researchers will assess how ‘green sea defences,’ that work with nature, can provide more sustainable protection than the UK’s current method of flood and erosion prevention, using traditional hard defences such as sea walls.
Supporting marine economies
The five-year research programme, called the Sustainable Management of UK Marine Resources, is supported by the Strategic Priorities Fund which aims to increase high-quality multi and inter-disciplinary research and innovation.
In partnership with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Marine Scotland, funding for the projects has been delivered by two UKRI research councils:
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
- Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
Environment Minister Rebecca Pow, said:
Coastal communities, marine habitats and wildlife across the UK are all facing increased pressure from the impacts of climate change.
Whether looking at the role of seagrasses to capture carbon or identifying behaviour changes to create a sustainable future, this latest investment from UKRI will further develop our understanding of the role nature can play in tackling the biggest challenge of our generation.
Professor Alison Park, Executive Chair of ESRC, said:
Climate change poses risks and challenges for people and coastal economies. This comes on top of existing vulnerabilities, for example having older or more transient populations, low employment and high work seasonality, and physical isolation and poor transport links.
These interdisciplinary research projects will provide a better understanding of how to support a viable, sustainable future for coastal communities and those who earn a living from the marine economy, with extensive stakeholder engagement to ensure they provide a wide range of potential solutions.
A sustainable future
Professor Sir Duncan Wingham, Executive Chair of NERC, said:
Millions of people in the UK depend on marine biodiversity for their livelihoods but climate change, over-fishing and pollution are impacting coastal environments. We are also increasing relying on the seas for resources, with strong growth in the renewable energy and aquaculture sectors.
This research will help to build our understanding of how we can effectively protect the marine economy and its ecosystems.
This research adds to UKRI’s long tradition of investing in cutting-edge research and innovation to understand, tackle and mitigate the effects of climate change.
In the year the UK hosts the UN COP-26 summit in November, UKRI will use its role as a steward of the research and innovation system to bring our communities together. To create sustainable and resilient solutions and encourage new behaviours and new ways of living that enable the UK to reach net zero by 2050.
Preparing for COP-26
UK Government Minister for Scotland David Duguid, said:
Climate change is already impacting ecosystems in our waters and livelihoods in coastal communities.
These UK government funded research projects will help support a sustainable future for Scotland‘s and the wider UK’s marine economy, which is crucial for jobs, businesses and livelihoods.
As we prepare to host COP-26 in Glasgow, building back greener from the pandemic is a UK Government priority and I’m pleased to see so much Scottish expertise, including from the fisheries sector, involved in these projects.
Scottish Government Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon, said:
This research not only fits in with the Scottish government’s work to address the twin challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change, but it will also help develop our understanding of how we can sustainably grow our coastal communities and marine sectors through the blue economy.
While the research will bring benefits across the UK, I am pleased that Scottish scientists will be involved in two projects which will look at using marine spatial planning to address the effects of climate change. Also to understand the different values marine resources have in the UK, with Shetland as a case study.
The research adds to UKRI’s long tradition of investing in cutting-edge research and innovation to understand, tackle and mitigate the effects of climate change.
In the year the UK hosts the UN COP-26 summit in November, UKRI will use its role as a steward of the research and innovation system to bring our communities together to create sustainable and resilient solutions. Also to encourage new behaviours and new ways of living that enable the UK to reach net zero by 2050.
