Goal 14: Life below water

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

Working in partnership both locally and globally, we are tackling each of the UN Sustainable Development Goals through our research and knowledge exchange, education and student experience, and through our operations. Discover how our unique commitments align with and support Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life below water.

Research and impact

The University advances SDG 14 through pioneering marine research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovative outreach, aligned with Targets 14.1, 14.2, and 14.a. The Department of Earth, Ocean, and Ecological Sciences investigate climate-driven oceanic changes, sustainable fisheries, and the impacts of plastic and chemical pollution on biodiversity. The Liverpool Institute for Sustainable Coasts and Oceans, a partnership with Liverpool John Moores University and the National Oceanography Centre, integrates natural and social sciences to study ocean–climate dynamics, ecosystem resilience, and marine policy. The University also contributes to UArctic, a network of 200+ institutions advancing collaborative Arctic marine research (14.a). In August 2025, Liverpool researchers led the Postcard: Retrieving Ocean Data from the Florida Straits expedition, recovering moorings deployed for two years to measure nutrients, carbon, and water properties in the Gulf Stream. Part of a £4 million NERC–NSF collaboration, this study enhances understanding of ocean circulation’s role in regulating climate and carbon sequestration (14.2). In April 2025, an outreach project with Liverpool FC players, AXA, and the Tara Ocean Foundation engaged schoolchildren in hands-on marine science aboard a research vessel, raising awareness of plastic pollution and promoting marine literacy (14.a). Through research, monitoring, and partnerships, Liverpool demonstrates leadership in marine science, delivering evidence-based insights for sustainable oceans and global climate action.

Education and student experience

The University empowers students to protect marine ecosystems through education, research, and field experience, aligned with SDG 14 sub-targets (14.2, 14.a, 14.4). Undergraduates engage in hands-on modules like Marine Ecosystems: Diversity, Processes and Threats, Contemporary Issues in Marine Sciences, and Climate, Atmosphere and Oceans, all deeply rooted in marine sustainability and ecosystem stewardship. In 2025, a new funded PhD project on repurposing decommissioned cooling-water structures into artificial reefs launched, providing students with cutting-edge, scalable conservation research opportunities. Students benefit from strong links with the National Oceanography Centre (Liverpool), a world-leading hub for coastal and sea-level science, through guest lectures and project supervision by NOC scientists, with opportunities for sea practical’s/research cruises and internships that build real-world experience. During Sustainability Week 2025, we hosted an exclusive screening of X Trillion, a documentary on ocean plastic pollution and scientific exploration, followed by discussions on education’s role in driving action (14.1, 14.a). The screening formed part of the week’s official programme and was open to staff, students, and external partners, strengthening capacity-building and partnerships for impact (14.a). Students also access placements and collaboration opportunities with leading marine institutions, advancing skills in biodiversity conservation, pollution reduction, and sustainable fisheries (14.2, 14.4).

Sustainable campus and operations

The University advances SDG 14 through sustainable operations that reduce marine pollution, safeguard aquatic ecosystems, and promote responsible consumption, aligned with our Sustainability Strategy and Biodiversity Plan (14.1, 14.2, 14.4, 14.a). In line with (14.1), we have made significant reductions in single-use plastics by eliminating straws, bottles, and packaging across campus, helping to prevent waste from entering waterways, while expanding refill stations to save water and reduce reliance on plastic bottles. Through the LEAF framework, over 150 laboratories are engaged in reducing plastic, chemical, and energy use, with 95% accredited at Bronze, Silver, or Gold. We reduced general waste sent for incineration by 650.9 tonnes (48.1%) as of August 2025, significantly lowering the risk of waste entering aquatic systems. Contributing to (14.4), our Sustainable Food Policy excludes species most at risk, as identified in the Marine Conservation Society’s Good Fish Guide, and ensures seafood is sourced only from sustainable, MSC-certified sources. Catering outlets also offer tap water and provide discounts for using keep cups, reinforcing a campus-wide culture of refill and reuse (14.1). Operational performance metrics, including progress on plastics reduction, LEAF accreditation, and waste diversion are publicly reported through our Sustainability Strategy and annual reports, ensuring transparent tracking of impact in support of SDG 14 (14.a).

Case studies

Shaping global standards for sustainable seabed activity

In March 2025, University of Liverpool researchers co-authored a Nature study that returned to a 1979 test site in the Clarion Clipperton Zone to understand how deep-sea ecosystems change and begin to recover over multi-decadal timescales. The team combined newly analysed historical records with a 2023 research voyage aboard RRS James Cook, using the UK’s ROV ISIS to map, image and sample the seabed. The study documents persistent physical disturbance 44 years on, including an ~8-metre-wide cleared strip, and uneven biological recovery, with small mobile fauna and xenophyophores recolonising disturbed areas while large sessile animals remain scarce. These findings provide crucial evidence for sustainably managing and protecting marine ecosystems (14.2).

Liverpool scientists in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences contributed to analyses of how disturbance alters seafloor food resources, noting that overall food quantity was similar inside and outside mining tracks but patchier within disturbed zones, indicating altered ecosystem processes relevant to long-term stewardship (14.2). Importantly, areas inferred to have been affected by the 1979 sediment plume showed limited long-term physical impacts and no detectable negative effect on animal numbers in this study, refining assumptions about impact pathways (14.2).

The work was led by the National Oceanography Centre with the Natural History Museum, the University of Liverpool and partners, funded by NERC under the SMARTEX programme. Methods, cruise records and datasets are publicly accessible, strengthening scientific knowledge, research capacity and technology transfer for regulators such as the International Seabed Authority and enabling evidence-based design of protected areas and monitoring frameworks (14.a).

Decarbonising the UK maritime sector

The University became a key participant in the £21.3 million UK-MaRes Hub, a national initiative aimed at decarbonising the UK maritime sector. The Hub is supported by £7.4 million from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the UK Government's Department for Transport, alongside £13.9 million in match funding from consortium partners. The UK-MaRes Hub includes 13 universities—Durham, Aston, Birmingham, Brighton, City, Cranfield, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield, Solent, St Andrews, and Ulster—as well as over 70 industrial and civic partners. The Hub’s mission is to reduce emissions and air pollution from maritime activities both in ports and at sea. Research themes cover sustainable marine fuels, low-carbon power and propulsion systems, decarbonised port operations, and improved vessel efficiency. At Liverpool, researchers are leading the “Port operations and infrastructure” theme, focusing on how ports can support maritime decarbonisation. The Hub will use the port of Liverpool as a case study, supported by Peel Ports Group. This work emphasises the goal of setting a global benchmark in maritime research through innovative and collaborative efforts and highlights the importance in achieving the UK’s 2050 net zero emissions target, noting that domestic shipping currently emits more greenhouse gases than buses and rail combined.

Arctic research expertise

In 2024, the University of Liverpool joined the University of the Arctic (UArctic), a global network dedicated to Arctic research and addressing challenges faced by Arctic societies. Established in 2001, UArctic connects nearly 200 institutions across 24 time zones in eight Arctic countries and beyond, offering unique opportunities for collaboration in education, research, and innovation. Liverpool’s membership reflects the University’s extensive Arctic research expertise. The University has significant projects focusing on Greenland and Nunavut's changing ice masses, Arctic seabird behaviour and conservation through the SEGUL group, and the polar oceans' role in global climate systems. In June, the University hosted UArctic President Lars Kullerud and Secretary General Outi Snellman. During their visit, Professor Doug Mair and other researchers presented Liverpool’s Arctic research strengths, including glaciology, marine spatial planning, and Arctic ecosystem changes. Professor Mair expressed enthusiasm for the new affiliation, highlighting it as a valuable opportunity to enhance Liverpool’s Arctic research and teaching collaborations. The membership is expected to foster mutually beneficial partnerships that support both Liverpool and the broader UArctic network.

Addressing ocean warming impacts

University of Liverpool marine biologists were at the forefront of research shedding light on the severe impacts of record-breaking ocean temperatures. A BBC analysis highlighted that the world’s oceans have consistently set daily temperature records over the past year, a phenomenon driven by climate change and amplified by the El Niño effect. Dr. Nova Mieszkowska, a leading researcher at the University, explained that the rapid warming has caused significant disruptions in coastal marine life, with certain species disappearing from UK waters. The heat has led to widespread coral bleaching and threatens the habitats of species like the emperor penguin. Data from the EU’s Copernicus Climate Service, revealing a new global sea surface temperature high of 21.09°C in early 2024, highlighted the growing urgency of the situation. Dr. Mieszkowska emphasised that the pace of climate change is outstripping the evolutionary adaptations of marine species, resulting in ecological imbalances and the spread of invasive species that disrupt native ecosystems. This research highlights the need for global action to combat climate change and its detrimental effects on marine environments, contributing to a broader understanding of how shifting oceanic conditions are impacting biodiversity and ecosystems worldwide.