Exploring Underwater Scilly

In one of the largest surveys of a UK marine protected area (MPA) ever conducted, Owen Exeter and his team of marine scientists deployed 280 baited underwater camera systems across the Isles of Scilly archipelago, a unique biodiversity hotspot in the northeast Atlantic. The cameras recorded thriving communities of sharks, fish, and crustaceans across habitats ranging from seagrass beds and kelp forests, taking viewers beneath the waves and offering a rare insight into some of the UK’s healthiest and wildest seas. Beyond documenting marine life, the data provide a practical blueprint for designing innovative marine monitoring programmes, helping to ensure conservation efforts are both evidence-based and effective.

Dr Owen Exeter is a marine conservation researcher at the University of Exeter, specialising in fish and shark ecology in UK waters, West Africa, and the Middle East. His research uses satellite tracking and cutting-edge underwater camera technologies to improve the effectiveness of marine protected areas (MPAs), supporting evidence-based conservation by demonstrating how MPAs can benefit both people and wildlife.

This event is a one-off and will not be repeated. If you can't attend the live event, you don't need to miss out. Book a space and once we've processed the event content after the live event you will be sent a link to the content online.

The marineLIVE webinar programme is part-funded through an Outreach Grant from the British Ecological Society.