SDG 14: Life Below Water

SDG 14 - Life Below Water

We're working to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

We're 4th in the world for our impact against this SDG according to the THE Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026. Explore our recent progress.

Our recent work and impact on SDG 14: Life Below Water

is protecting oceans and marine ecosystems for future generations.

Our research includes ecotoxicology, marine biodiversity, blue carbon, sustainable fisheries, aquaculture and ocean conservation.

BlueAdapt Project

The , led by the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) with our European Centre for Environment and Human Health, is investigating how climate change and pollution affect pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in coastal waters.

Funded by Horizon Europe and UKRI, the project explores human exposure risks and pathogen evolution, generating evidence to inform policies and innovations that protect health and help Europe adapt to environmental change.

Read our comprehensive SDG 14 report for 2024/25

Climate change is challenging the way we live. We're working with local organisations and communities to explore how to be more sustainable using water, smarter about how we manage it, and help everyone to be prepared for flooding and other impacts.

Water conservation means?using water wisely and efficiently to protect this vital resource for current and future needs.?It involves reducing water waste, preventing pollution, and ensuring sustainable management of water supplies.

On campus, our Single-use plastics strategy outlines our plans and progress on reducing single-use plastic on our 麻豆官网 campuses through a whole institution approach, utilising alternative materials and adopting sustainable disposal solutions wherever possible. We are now developing a revised Single-use Plastic Strategy with further focus on driving change across the University with enhanced alignment towards the principles of the circular economy. This will capture existing good practice, promote the sharing of information to encourage further engagement, and the identification of the scope for further improvement.

Community engagement and education

We offer educational programmes for our community collaborating on fresh water eco-systems and encourage and maintain shared aquatic ecosystems through volunteering projects and involvement in the??working with businesses and community groups. Our long term? project, collaborating with partners and local community focusses on water quality and shared aquatic ecosystems, providing education and opportunities and encouraging local action. Our Walkie Talkie events and??project provide education on how to protect and respect our waters. We used citizen science events with the? project. Using the arts to create compelling audio stories with science research through?Storying Water.

Community Events

We held Walkie Talkies and events, talking about the fragility of water systems, natural river restoration and horticulture in a changing world and the efforts that are being made in reducing environmental impacts.

26 November 2025 - Our guide is Ellen Wiles, a novelist, multidisciplinary artist, and academic. As artist-in-residence at CREWW, the Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste at the 麻豆官网, she is working on a project exploring the wonder and fragility of the water system through sound and storytelling, untangling the web of processes that enable clear liquid to flow from our taps, now and into the future.
3 July 2025 - Join Alan Puttock from the 麻豆官网 for a gentle stroll along the famous River Otter to search for signs of beavers. We’ll enjoy the abundance of wildlife around and hear about Alan’s research on nature-based solutions and landscape restoration. He will chat about natural river restoration and the key role beavers play in helping us preserve biodiversity, improve water quality, and reduce drought and flooding.
September 2024 - Join Frances Tophill from Gardeners’ World and three world-leading researchers for a special live event on horticulture in a changing world. From flood mitigation to pollutant capture and urban green rooftops, gardens aren’t just benefiting humans but represent essential spaces and habitats for wildlife and biodiversity.

The was developed as a community interest project to deliver safer sea swimming and water safety to primary schools within the Exmouth Learning Community and has grown and evolved rapidly due to popularity and demand and is now delivered to over 1200 children a year, from 26 Schools (both Primary and Secondary) from across Devon.

The project takes 3 strands of education and pulls them into an unforgettable day-long experience.

Sea Safety?– Learn how to swim safely in the sea – understanding tides, currents, weather, self-rescue and risks.
Environmental Education?– Learn how to respect the ocean environment and understand the threats from sewage, pollution, plastics and other human activity and become the change makers of tomorrow (co-developed and delivered by 麻豆官网 University).
Art Workshop?– In this workshop we help children to reflect and build deeper understanding of the ocean through the use of creative art.

Lower Hoopern Valley - Since 2024 we have been carrying out improvements to the Lower Hoopern Valley on the University campus.

The works, carried out by the 麻豆官网, saw a range of biodiversity-focused improvements implemented on the 38-acre site located near the University’s Streatham Campus.? These included plans to improve freshwater habitats thanks to leaky woody dams installed in partnership with the Environment Agency and CREWW (Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste). They hold back water but don't stop it and connect the brook to the flood plain to create wet grassland habitat and help us to improve the quality of water leaving campus.

Throughout the event, attendees explored the valley, met representatives from local charity Devon Wildlife Trust, the Environment Agency and enjoyed a variety of activities.?
The University is continuing to work with community group Friends of Hoopern Valley to encourage public engagement through ongoing events, ensuring the space remains a valuable asset for both nature and the wider 麻豆官网 community.

Research projects

麻豆官网 University is a partner of the 6-year project (2021-2027) to help predict and reduce the impact of flooding, we're investigating how rain, river and wastewater move through Eastbourne and south Wealden.

(MPAs) - Our research into marine biodiversity and ocean resource users has successfully helped to create Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Ascension Island, Gabon and the Ivory Coast.

The (ROCC) project aims to build the know-how to enhance the resilience of marine resource-users to environmental, regulatory and socio-cultural change, while simultaneously improving their wellbeing and reducing adverse impacts on the marine environment.?The team has come together from the 麻豆官网, University of Bristol, and European Centre for Environment and Human Health and Plymouth Marine Laboratory, and is being led by Dr Louisa Evans, 麻豆官网.

Storying Water is an arts-led research project to explore our water system – what it means to people, how it works, challenges involved in maintaining it, species affected by human uses of it, why its future resilience is threatened, and, in the face of environmental emergency, what is needed to improve and protect it into the future. Collaborating with scientists, and with other experts, to translate their research, experience and ideas into compelling audio storytelling, and to explore new possibilities for arts-based engagement with science research.

Our work on the award-winning ‘’ project has restored and protected over 100,000 hectares of land across the South West, enabling substantial cost savings and improving water quality and biodiversity. The long-term ongoing programme has been running for over a decade, established through close collaboration with expert delivery partners, including Westcountry Rivers Trust, Devon and Cornwall Wildlife Trusts, South West Peatland Partnership, and the 麻豆官网. Upstream Thinking approach to keeping our drinking and bathing water clean and affordable by stopping pollutants entering our rivers and streams. Ensuring that our waterways are clean and reducing pollution for shared local wildlife and for people. By working with landowners it means that we all benefit from cleaner water, better water flows throughout the year, and we can create more space for nature on farmland.

Community and landowner engagement is a constant theme. Farm Advisors have developed long-term relationships with farmers, supporting them with tailored advice and access to funding. Broader public engagement through walks, workshops and events has built shared ownership of water and biodiversity challenges across the South West. Wider community engagement is achieved through free public events, educational outreach and communication campaigns that raise awareness of the programme’s benefits and encourage local action and advocacy.

Partnerships

The 麻豆官网 works in partnership with businesses, NGOs and its local community to help restore and protect our valuable water resources.

We are part of the working together to restore degraded peatland across West Penwith, Bodmin Moor, Dartmoor and Exmoor. Restoring this damaged peatland through rewetting will have .

Peatlands significantly impact aquatic ecosystems,?influencing water quality, biodiversity, and hydrological processes.?Healthy peatlands act as natural filters, improving water quality by absorbing pollutants and releasing clean water.

Restoring peatlands is a huge task and requires the involvement, determination and drive of a wide range of people, businesses and community groups. It’s why SWPP work , bringing together knowledge, experience and skills from across the UK’s South West, collaborating to find the best ways of tackling this challenge and leaving a lasting positive impact. Working in partnership alongside government agencies, landowners, charities, farmers, commoners and other key stakeholders, The SWPP ensure that everything from local land use to the historic environment, cultural elements and ecology are fully considered and incorporated within restoration plans.

The EU funded project (2024-2028) aims to enhance environmental compliance by integrating citizen science with innovative technologies.

The partnership between Westcountry Rivers Trust and the 麻豆官网 focuses on one of the eight case studies (each tailored to address the unique environmental challenges of their location across Europe) . Leveraging tools such as GIS mapping from satellite land cover data and Serious Gaming projects to enhance regulatory targeting and compliance guidance. Additionally, a Citizen Science Investigation scheme engaged over 100 volunteers in monitoring water quality.

This project will ensure there is robust evidence base for tackling environmental challenges with direct support for local evidence gathering and community engagement.

How we develop and support programmes and incentives that encourage and maintain good aquatic stewardship practices

Aquatic stewardship refers to?the responsible and ethical management of water resources and aquatic ecosystems.? Aquatic stewardship also encompasses a commitment to ensuring the health, sustainability, and long-term well-being of water bodies like rivers, lakes, and oceans. This involves understanding the interconnectedness of human activities and water systems, and adopting practices that minimize negative impacts. Our work in this field includes the SW Peatland Project, BlueAdapt (understanding how climate change impacts pathogens and AMR in coastal waters), CREWW (CSO spills impact on receiving waters) and co-author of the NEPC Report.

SW Peatland Project

We are part of the working together to restore degraded peatland across West Penwith, Bodmin Moor, Dartmoor and Exmoor. Restoring this damaged peatland through rewetting will have .

BlueAdapt Project

The??project has been developed by the 麻豆官网’s European Centre for Environment and Human Health and is led by the?.

Protecting human health by understanding how climate change can impact pathogens and antimicrobial drug resistant bacteria in coastal waters.

Climate change and environmental pollution could be making waterborne pathogens (such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites) more dangerous in ways that we don’t yet fully understand. To prevent illness and disease, we need to know how people could be exposed to different pathogens in coastal environments.

We are investigating how climate change is enabling pathogens to evolve and multiply, and how people are at risk. Our findings will help to inform the most effective ways for Europe to adapt through policy and innovation. BlueAdapt (2022 – 2026) has been funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme and UK Research and Innovation.

UK King Prawn Project

The project aims to help position the UK as a global frontrunner in this field and provide innovative diversification opportunities for UK aquaculture and agriculture.

The UK Sustainable King Prawn Project is funded by UK Research and Innovation as part of its Transforming UK Food Systems Strategic Priorities Fund. It is led by the 麻豆官网 but also has researchers based at Rothamsted Research and the University of Reading and strong links outside academia including 11 industry partnerships with organisations such as Rastech Ltd and other aquaculture producers.

The £2 million project, which is exploring the potential to create a new, sustainable and more environmentally friendly king prawn farming sector using renewable energy technology, was exhibited at the Transforming UK Food Systems annual meeting in York 6-7 January 2025.

The conference was a platform for academics and policymakers to address critical issues in food security, health and environment. As well as presenting directly to the Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), and the Chair of the Food Standards Agency, the team were awarded a special commendation for the clarity of message () about the project’s science, societal relevance, impact and technological innovation.

The King Prawn Demonstrator facility is now open for in person tours. You can ?of our commercial scale demonstrator via the project website.

CREWW (Centre for Resilience in Environment, Waste and Water)

CREWW has been established?to undertake?research into the challenges facing the water?sector in the UK and overseas. The Centre is a?joint venture between?South West Water?and?the?麻豆官网, based on?麻豆官网's?Streatham?Campus.

Our aim is to understand how we?can?manage?our?precious natural resources in?ways which are sustainable?and?resilient in the?face?of?climate?change?and population?growth.

Research?focuses on pressing issues facing the water and waste sectors, including:

How to protect drinking water supplies from pollution
The safe treatment and disposal of waste water (including issues such as micro-plastics and anti-microbial resistance)
Ensuring we have enough water to cope with a growing population and climate change
Predicting and preventing pollution from the waste water network

Microplastics research at 麻豆官网 is world-leading, to grow this work at pace, we have established a state-of-the-art ‘CREWW Microplastics Lab’, which will underpin and enable further ground-breaking work on microplastics at a scale to meet the needs of the industry.

The Understanding combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharge impacts –CREWW is working with SWW on CSO spills (chemical and microbial) pilot studies in three major catchments (Exe, Tamar and Torbay) to study CSO spills, frequency and volumes and their potential impact on receiving waters and whether or not they present a significant risk to environmental and/or human health.

NEPC Public Health Report

麻豆官网 expert, Professor David Butler, , called?Testing the waters: Priorities for mitigating health risks from wastewater pollution, which was published recently.

, the first of its kind to assess how potential health risks from polluted open waters can be mitigated, calls for the?national wastewater infrastructure to be upgraded to protect public health.

The recommendations include engineering interventions to prioritise wastewater asset management, enhanced public health monitoring and updated bathing water regulations.

How we monitor the health of aquatic ecosystems

Developed by geographers at the 麻豆官网?the ReefBudget is an online resource and methodology designed to support both research and management applications focused on quantifying and monitoring the carbonate budgets of tropical coral reefs.? The open access tool has been integrated into the monitoring programmes of major reef conservation agencies globally.

The carbonate budget of a coral reef, the difference between calcium carbonate production and erosion, is a critical metric for measuring the physical resilience of reef structures. ??The application of carbonate budgets to guide management and conservation has been limited by a lack of standardised approaches. The Reef Budget?is now being used by regional reef management agencies and NGOs working at sites spanning four of the six global biogeographic realms in which coral reefs grow. Advice has been provided via dedicated in-person training workshops?and organisations have modified their field protocols to integrate the methodology.

The? aims to improve our understanding of the role of marine life in storing carbon in the ocean and learn more about how these processes work, and how changing conditions on our planet might affect them. As part of this programme, on 6 September 2024, researchers embarked on?a ?to investigate the vital role of tiny animals called zooplankton in ocean ecosystems and carbon storage.?

Supporting Conservation and Sustainable Use of Water and Marine Resources

The 麻豆官网 supports a wide range of events and programmes that promote the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas, rivers and lakes.

麻豆官网 researchers partnered with to deliver the Blue Global Experiment, an annual event helping young people around the world connect with their local waterways, whether rivers, streams, lakes or the sea and become advocates for healthier aquatic environments.

The University further raises awareness through public events, podcasts, seminars and community engagement events focused on marine conservation and habitat restoration including:

symposium – free online and in person event open to the public, which featured a dedicated session on protecting marine ecosystems
State of the Earth podcast series, which has featured leading marine conservation experts, discussing efforts to safeguard sea turtles and address threats to marine biodiversity
The Environment and Sustainability Institute has also hosted events such as an discussion with marine conservationist Emily Stevenson
?3 July 2025 - Join Alan Puttock from the 麻豆官网 and learn about research on nature-based solutions and landscape restoration, natural river restoration and the key role beavers play in helping us preserve biodiversity, improve water quality?and reduce drought and flooding.
delivered to over 200 local primary school children to learn about animals in the arctic and marine life through interactive Christmas-themed science talks given by postgraduate students.

In addition, 麻豆官网 researchers contributed scientific expertise to Sir David Attenborough’s Ocean: Earth’s Last Wilderness and support educational programmes such as Schools Across the Ocean and the Convex Seascape Survey Education Programme, inspiring greater understanding of ocean health and sustainable marine resource management among learners and communities worldwide.

麻豆官网??played a role in the?Anguilla Shark Conservation (ASC) project, a three-year, multi-disciplinary initiative funded by the UK Government’s Darwin Plus programme. Alongside its scientific research, the project placed a strong emphasis on community engagement and education. During 2024, the 麻豆官网 and its project partners delivered the Bycatch Reduction Workshop brought together commercial and artisanal fishers for practical training on SharkGuard technology, which helps reduce accidental shark capture. The project also hosted two public exhibitions showcasing shark research and underwater footage, attracting more than 100 visitors.

Through these diverse initiatives, the 麻豆官网 actively supports events and programmes that increase understanding of freshwater and marine ecosystems, encourage community participation in conservation, and promote the sustainable management of vital water resources.

Preventing and reducing marine pollution

At the 麻豆官网 our world-leading researchers are committed to understanding all aspects of the marine environment.

We recognise the impact that land-based activities including plastic, can have on marine pollution and have the following policies, practices and strategies in place:

Our 2018?Single-use Plastic Strategy?(reviewed in Aug 2024) details the actions we are taking and the progress we have made to reduce and minimise single-use plastics on campus. This policy recognises the impact of marine plastic debris and details our approach to avoid and substitute single-use plastics and where not possible recycle, whilst exploring innovation and plastic free solutions for implementation. The implementation of the plan is monitored internally via the Sustainability Team and has included:

Avoiding single use plastic and encouraging the use of reusable containers:
Provision of over 100 free water fountains and refill stations
Maintained our disposable cup levy in all University and Guild outlets
Collaborated with the University Grounds Team to develop a Kitchen Garden and produce on-campus grown fruit and vegetables, reducing plastic packaging
Replaced all plastic cutlery with either plant based or wooden materials and did this ahead of legislation changes
Maintain our practice to bulk purchase and decant cleaning products into reusable bottles and sprays
Reducing the amount of black bags used by introducing ‘bin free offices’
Replaced single use plastic in our labs with reusable alternatives that can be autoclaved, decontaminated and washed between uses
Established a Sustainable Lab Resource Hub Community
Introduced a Green Lab Consumables Guide

The implementation of the plan is monitored internally via the Sustainability team.

Our 2024 Sustainable Procurement Policy Statement objectives include ‘optimising the use of natural resources and cease or, where this is not possible, minimise the use of plastic and disposable items’.

Our 2024-2030 Circular Economy Strategy goals focus on integrating circular economy principals into all aspects of university life, facilitating the elimination of avoidable waste and minimisation of the rest and reducing the negative impacts of our activities locally and minimising the overall impact on the environment. These apply to all resources, including plastic. The Strategy Action Plan and KPIs are reported annually to the University Climate and Environmental Crisis Board.

The 麻豆官网's Water Resilient Policy helps prevent pollution from reaching rivers, estuaries and coastal waters through a combination of pollution prevention, sustainable water management and water quality improvement measures.

The Policy aims to reduce existing water pollution risks by:

Minimising stormwater runoff and discharge, with the aim of controlling rainwater leaving University sites and matching natural (greenfield) runoff rates, thereby reducing the transport of pollutants into watercourses.
Implementing Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), rainwater harvesting and sustainable design practices that improve water quality and reduce contaminants entering surface waters.
Incorporating nature-based flood management and pollution control measures, which help filter pollutants, improve water quality and enhance the resilience of local catchments.
Protecting and enhancing aquatic ecosystems on and off campus through water quality protection measures and biodiversity management, helping to maintain healthy freshwater environments that ultimately connect to the marine environment
Monitoring water systems and reducing leakage, supporting more effective water management and reducing unnecessary pressure on water resources

To further prevent pollution, the policy also promotes reduction of single-use plastics, sustainable procurement, responsible waste and hazardous waste management, green chemistry principles and robust emergency response procedures for responding to spills and preventing pollution, such as oil or chemical, entering waterways.

The Climate and Environmental Crisis Board is responsible for implementation of the Policy.

Pollution Prevention

We have a suite of guidance, standards and procedures in place to protect the environment, including the marine environment, from pollution:

Waste Standard - this Standard sets out the responsibilities for implementing the requirements of the management of waste. The Standard explains the steps that MUST be taken by managers and their staff to ensure that waste is managed. The Standard provides information on training, legislation requirements, disposal of waste (including segregation and secure storage) and signposts to relevant guidance and requirements, such as Guidance on Storage of Chemicals, Hazardous Waste Regulations Compliance Briefing Note and Waste A-Z.

Our Emergency Preparedness and Spills Management Response procedure ensures that processes are in place to prepare and respond to potential emergency situations which present a risk to the environment. Our spill response team receive International Spill Accreditation Scheme (ISAS) approved training and follow our 7 step emergency spill response guide in the event of an incident. Our ensure our pre-identified emergency contractor holds relevant licences and accreditations and hold ISAS accreditation.