South West Marine Ecosystems Conference 2026

Welcome to the South West Marine Ecosystems Conference 2026! Join us at Plymouth Marine Laboratory on Saturday 23rd April 2026, to report on the state of south-west seas in 2025 and foster connections among key stakeholders dedicated to understanding and managing these vital waters.

DATE: Thursday 23rd April 2026

TIME: Arrival from 08:30, wine reception from 16:00

LOCATION: Plymouth Marine Laboratory

BOOKING: This eventbrite page

The South West Marine Ecosystem (SWME) Conference brings together marine conservationists, citizen scientists, researchers, and managers to share knowledge, strengthen collaborations, and inform future monitoring and management of the marine environment. Observations and research from 2025 will contribute to the annual State of the South West Seas report.

The conference provides a valuable opportunity for networking and collaboration, connecting a diverse range of people to exchange ideas and build networks that support marine ecosystems. It strengthens citizen science initiatives and fosters collaboration between users, researchers, and policymakers, while also enhancing links between scientists working on projects across the region.

A key focus is on ecological and oceanographic observations, recording major environmental and biological events from 2025 that have affected south-west marine ecosystems. These insights contribute to the State of the SW Seas report, helping to identify links between environmental changes and marine life.

The event also highlights marine species and ecosystem studies, exploring research on planktonic, benthic, and mobile species—including fish, birds, mammals, and turtles—and the ecosystems that support them. Annual updates provide valuable insights into species populations and their responses to environmental and human pressures.

Marine ecosystem management is another important theme, with discussions aimed at strengthening connections between policymakers and scientists. The conference promotes science-led management to support the health of south-west marine ecosystems, ensuring that conservation and policy decisions are based on strong scientific evidence.

Additionally, the conference celebrates marine education and outreach, highlighting and supporting marine education initiatives across the region. It encourages the development of new programmes that promote marine conservation and best practices in environmental education, interpretation, and community engagement.

Finally, the conference is a chance to come together and celebrate our shared passion for the South West’s marine environment.

📍 For programme details, directions, and accommodation: https://swmecosystems.co.uk/

📩 For booking enquiries, contact: [email protected]

Info: Doors open at 08:30 with refreshments and registration available until 09:30 when the conference will start.

Info: The team leading this session will include: Bob Earll, Abigail McQuattors-Gollop, Libby West & Keith Hiscock and others
9.30 - 10.30 Presentation: The presentation will include a comprehensive review of over 35 major marine ecosystem changes that have taken place in the south-west over the 20th & 21st centuries including those from natural systems and from human activity. Changes prompted by climate, oceanography, natural variations, including disease, as well as human activities such as fisheries and pollution will be used the nature of change. The presentation will include contributions from over 20 different experts and will be presented by three narrators. This information will be made available to delegates.

10.30 - 11.30 Discussion: The presentation will be followed by a detailed discussion with the active engagement of the audience of the points arising looking to explore the relationships between events. A range of outputs will be prepared after the event.

Info: Sandwiches and Refreshments

Info: This will be a review of the main highlights of 2025 for all the thematic topics that SWME covers

Info: Cakes and Refreshments

Info: The team leading this session will include: Lissa Batey, Lillian Lieber, Dan Barrios-ONeill & Bryce Stewart and others
The format of this part of the programme will include:
• Coverage of issues which we can be relatively certain about e.g. the development of floating offshore wind, plastic pollution, ocean acidification and changes to coastal environments.
• Reflections on lessons from the past changes to south-west ecosystems
• Active involvement of the audience in visualising likely threats & impacts
• A range of outputs are envisaged, not least pointers to what we need to better understand

Info: Further details TBC

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Host or Publisher Cornwall Wildlife Trust