ROAD MAP OVERVIEW “clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas” – The UK Marine Vision Background     The Marine Science Co-ordination Committee (MSCC) is a governmental committee that was created in 2008 to deliver the UK Marine Science Strategy.

However, over the last 10 years there has been a shift in societal, political and economic needs. This, along with recent marine strategies and reports (e.g. UK Industrial Strategy (2017), UK Research and Innovation’s Strategic Prospectus (2018), Foresight Future of the Seas report (2018), Maritime 2050 Strategy (2019) and the forthcoming International Ocean Strategy), has prompted the MSCC to refresh their direction and create nine high level priorities to achieve the UK Marine Vision.

Marine Science Co-ordination Committee (MSCC)

We identify opportunities for the alignment and development of UK marine science to inform policy decisions and forward implementation of the UK Marine Science Strategy. 

High Level Priorities

1. Better understand the capacity of the marine ecosystem to supply ecosystem services, natural resources and societal and economic benefits now and into the future
2. Better understand the structure, function, resilience and variability of marine ecosystems
3. Better understand the impacts of climate change, including its multiple stressors and feedbacks, and the ocean’s resistance and resilience to a changing climate
4. Promote and represent UK marine science at international fora, strengthening existing and building new relationships with international partners including research organisations and infrastructure
5. Better enable the efficient capture, storage, use and security of marine scientific data
6. Better understand society’s relationship with our oceans and seas
7. Better understand cumulative and in-combination impacts on the capacity of marine systems to supply food, energy and mineral resources as well as mitigate against the risk and effects of natural hazards
8. Support the long-term monitoring, observing and mapping of the marine environment and ocean systems
9. Facilitate the communication of high quality, up-to date marine science and evidence