Cefas-UEA Alliance publications

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E: ccsus@uea.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1603 592542

The Rosa Lee Room (SCI/0.58), School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia

Cefas and the University of East Anglia have worked together since Cefas first became an Affiliated Institute of UEA in 1965.

This enduring and productive relationship is based on our shared interest in the marine environment, climate science, provision of policy advice and scientific excellence. In the 50th year of our Affiliation, we established the Collaborative Centre for Sustainable Use of the Seas (CCSUS). Bringing together people and investment from Cefas and UEA, CCSUS provides an interdisciplinary hub for research, engagement, knowledge transfer and training.

The CCSUS vision is to combine innovative science and practical expertise to achieve sustainable use of the seas. UEA and Cefas are realising this vision by working together in partnership to generate and translate excellent multi-disciplinary research to provide practical solutions for marine systems and society. Specifically the strategic science objectives of CCSUS are to:

  • Generate, synthesise and translate high quality research to support sustainable use of the seas, thus providing long-term environmental and societal benefits
  • Catalyse new collaborations leading to innovative research on marine systems to address pressing marine policy challenges and to ensure salient high quality advice is readily accessible to policy makers and managers
  • Promote engagement of scientists, advisers, industry, policy makers and society to identify future opportunities and priorities for better use and management of the seas
  • Provide an inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional base that enhances learning and training experiences for future marine scientists and advisers from the UK and abroad.

In this theme we address the vulnerability and resilience of marine ecosystems and maritime industries to climate change; biological responses to long-term climate change and short-term variability and projections and predictions of marine climate change impacts on ecosystems, industry and society. We measure and predict climate impacts on energy and food production. We also seek to identify shocks, critical thresholds and tipping points for marine ecosystems, to develop practical climate adaptation strategies and to understand and enhance public awareness of marine climate change issues.

 

In this theme we explore the variety, quantity, distribution and migrations of marine life, from viruses to whales and from the tropics to the poles.

We describe and model the structure, function and dynamics of marine food webs; develop innovative methods for monitoring animal behaviour, movements and migrations and assess population and species’ vulnerability to human pressures, environmental variation and change. We seek to increase the testing and uptake genetic tools, in marine environmental management.

We develop, test and apply indicators for monitoring and reporting on the biodiversity of marine habitats, and the status of populations and communities of marine organisms.

 

In this theme we develop, test and apply monitoring methods using wave gliders, other marine and aerial autonomous vehicles, moored buoys, platforms of opportunity and passive samplers. We seek to innovate in survey design and the analysis of data, including  acoustic, remote sensing, citizen science and genomic data, to assess human pressures, state of the environment and risks from disease and invasive species. We are working to develop cost-effective integrated monitoring and reporting programmes based on new technologies and open-source modelling and assessment tools and open data.  We will develop methods to target monitoring and management based on risk.

 

 

In this theme we provide the evidence base to support the role of marine-related industries in generating sustainable and sufficient energy and food. We focus on the effects of nuclear, wind, tidal and wave energy generation on the environment and interactions between energy generation and other uses of the sea. We assess the sufficiency, sustainability and safety of food from fisheries and aquaculture and the resilience and ethical performance the food system. We develop and test methods for the management of fisheries and aquaculture to meet environmental, social and economic objectives.

In this theme we address the structure, function and resilience of ecosystems and their role in shelf-seas and global biogeochemical cycles. We develop and apply methods for measuring and predicting human and environmental impacts on ecosystem structure, function and resilience with a focus on developing and testing practical methods for assessing the effects of cumulative pressures. We measure and model the effects of tides and waves on coastal erosion, transport and deposition, to predict coastal change, the effects of coastal development or restoration and assess risks to coastal habitats and infrastructure.

In this theme we quantify and value the interactions of coastal and marine environments and industries with people. We develop, test and apply methods for valuing coastal and marine goods and services and assessing trade-offs between economic, social and environmental impacts of management options. We engage society in marine data gathering and interpretation, seeking to increase marine literacy and understanding and transparency of decision making with open data and evidence.  We assess how trends in people’s lifestyles influence the sea and horizon scan to describe alternate futures and management options for marine socio-ecological systems.

The Centre is based in the School of Environmental Sciences at UEA and provides a forum to bring together expertise from the Schools of Economics, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Maths, Global Development, Computing Science and Pharmacy as well as the Sainsbury Laboratory, John Innes Institute and Institute of Food Research on the Norwich Research Park. By coordinating with other UEA Centres including the Centre for Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, Climate Research Unit, the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and the Centre for the Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment, CCSUS supports new collaborations on marine systems and their sustainability and complements existing UEA research.

Within its six themes CCSUS is expanding joint capability, by increasing the critical mass of marine scientists on the Norwich Research Park and encouraging the research community to develop and apply their science. The Centre is seeking to deliver a step change in scientific collaboration, to provide practical solutions to pressing challenges for marine systems and society. Its work builds on the engagement and goodwill that has characterised 50 years of existing interaction between Cefas and UEA.

Our people

Dr Julie Bremner

Energy and food security
E: j.bremner@uea.ac.uk

Dr Michelle Devlin

Marine technology, monitoring and risk

Dr Stephen Dye

Deputy Director
E: stephen.dye@cefas.co.uk
T: 01603 59 3398

Dr Naomi Greenwood

Ecosystem and coastal processes
E: n.greenwood@uea.ac.uk

Dr Ewan Hunter

Life in the seas

E: ewan.hunter@uea.ac.uk

Dr Martin Johnson

Deputy Director

E: martin.johnson@uea.ac.uk
T: 01603 59 1299

Dr Tiziana Luisetti

Marine systems and society

E: tiziana.luisetti@uea.ac.uk

Dr John Pinnegar

Director- Climate change impacts and adaptation

E: j.pinnegar@uea.ac.uk
T: 01603 59 1987