Marine
The South West marine cluster can be divided into 3 essential
strands, taking in the marine technologies and boat building,
marine biology and the science of sustainability and prediction. It
is the strong relationship between these strands that gives the
region its unique strengths in the marine sector, with both marine
business and tourism activities.
The South West is widely associated with its
long coastline and established relationship with the marine
environment, and the region has unique strengths in both research
and industry that underpins this.
Business
Marine business in the South West
employs over 30.000 people with a turnover of more than
£1.3 billion per annum. The marine sciences forms an important
sub-sector and marine engineering has the potential to become a
significant growth sector.
Regional Expertise
Plymouth has established itself as a major
research centre for marine science at internationally recognised
centres of excellence such as the University of Plymouth, Plymouth
Marine Laboratory (PML), the Marine Biological Association of the
UK (MBA), the Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science, and
the National Marine Aquarium. The Plymouth Marine Science
Partnership (PMSP) is an important collaboration in the region that
brings together 7 research institutions within Plymouth.
South West England universities offer
excellence in mechanical and electrical/electronic engineering
courses and research at Bath, Bristol, Plymouth and West of England
Universities.
The expertise in the region also includes
CEFAS (Centre for Aquaculture and Fisheries Science), the UK
Hydrographic Office and the MET Office.