Plymouth Marine Laboratory is a globally recognized independent provider of scientific research and contract services relating to the marine environment, increasing understanding of how marine ecosystems function, how the ocean contributes to a thriving society and how this vital resource can be protected for future generations. Listed 8th in the world of the top 30 Research Institutions in Oceanography (Thomson Reuters, 2011), PML collaborates with on average 250 industrial, academic and governmental partners from 50 countries each year. In the UK PML is a designated National Capability Delivery Partner for the Natural Environment Research Council, providing a strategic research capability in marine science.