These webpages provide access to marine data and information, and outline the work of the Marine Environmental Data Action Group. MEDAG is part of OceanNET and is operated by IACMST

Below is a list of government agencies that undertake marine research or monitoring. Download an organisational chart to show how these organisations are linked.

If you would like to add your organisation to this list please e-mail: enquiries@oceannet.org

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Many government departments have a remitt throughout UK coastal waters such as the The Meterological Office and The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. Other roles within the UK have been split between the devolved administrations as follows:

The Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), The Scottish Executive, and Department for the Environment (Northern Ireland) play an important role in co-ordinating marine environment policy and legislation both domestically and internationally.

The regulatory authorities whose primary aim is to ensure a clean and healthy environment are comprised of The Environment Agency (England and Wales), The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and The Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) (Northern Ireland). These agencies achieve their aims by implementing national and european legislation such as Bathing Waters Directive and The Water Framework Directive. The regulatory agencies predominantly operate in near shore areas up to 12 nautical miles from baseline.
Three organisations have traditionally been responsible for fish stock assessment and monitoring and research of the environment that underpins fisheries in the UK. These are, The Centre for Fisheries Aquaculture and Environment (CEFAS) (England and Wales), Fisheries Research Services (FRS) (Scotland) and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) (Northern Ireland). Their responsibilities extend throughout UK coastal waters and the continental shelf.
Conservation of marine habitats and species in the UK is primarily the governance of 5 organisations: Countryside Council for Wales, English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage, Environment and Heritage Service (Northern Ireland). The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) provides advise to these agencies and to the government to ensure coordination of marine conservation throughout the UK.

The centres detailed below are funded wholy or collaboratively with the Natural Environment Research Council. These centres have specific roles such as British Oceanographic Data Centre which acts as a national facility for looking after and distributing data concerning the marine environment, and British Geological Survey which is responsible for advising the UK government on aspects of geoscience as well as providing impartial geological advice to industry, academia and the public.