Cefas is an executive agency of the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Cefas is UK’s largest and most diverse applied marine science centre. Its broad capability covers shelf sea dynamics, climate effects on the marine environment, ecosystems and food security. Cefas has organised its work into six key themes:
- observing and modelling the marine environment (oceanography and numerical modelling, using a range of technology and tools)
- climate – predicting marine impacts and adapting to change (our evidence and potential mitigation measures)
- the ecosystem approach and biodiversity (habitat mapping and understanding connections)
- assessing human impacts on the marine environment (marine planning, emergency response and specific impacts)
- promoting healthy aquaculture and mariculture (food safety, plus aquatic animal diseases and impacts on animal health)
- sustainable fisheries management (marine, migratory and freshwater fisheries information to support management)
As the UK’s most diverse applied marine science centre, Cefas helps to shape and implement policy through internationally renowned science and collaborative relationships that span the EU, UK government, non-governmental organisations, research centres and industry.
