From Plankton to Plate: Exploring Marine Food Chains and the Future of Fish

Join University of Southampton researchers for an evening of talks marking World Fisheries Day, celebrated globally on 21 November each year to highlight the importance of sustainable fish stocks, fair livelihoods, and responsible fishing practices.

From Plankton to Plate follows the journey of ocean life through the marine food chain — from microscopic plankton to fish, whales, and the communities that depend on them. This public event invites you to explore how research across the University is helping to understand, sustain, and manage these vital connections.

Speakers will share new insights into marine ecosystems, aquaculture, and fisheries governance, and how this work supports the transition towards more sustainable seafood systems and thriving coastal livelihoods.

Hosted by the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute (SMMI), the Future Towns Innovation Hub (FTIH), and the Infrastructure for Port Cities and Coastal Towns (iPACT) Network.

Speakers

Professor Paul Kemp

Director, Future Towns Innovation Hub

Dr Cathy Lucas

Associate Professor in Marine Biology

Plankton: the foundation of marine food webs

Plankton consist of diverse communities of (mostly) microscopic plants (phytoplankton) and animals (zooplankton) that play a vital role in sustaining life in all aquatic environments from lakes, estuaries, coasts, to the open ocean. Phytoplankton form the base of food webs, converting sunlight, carbon dioxide and nutrients into organic biomass that is food for many zooplankton grazers, which in turn are food for predators at higher trophic levels, including jellyfish, fish and whales. This talk will introduce you to the diversity and function of plankton, and how climate change is affecting their role in sustaining fisheries.

Dr Julie Mestre

Research Fellow, School of Ocean and Earth Science

Avanthika Kamath

PhD Student, Future Towns Innovation Hub

Dr Sien van der Plank

Senior Research Fellow, School of Geography and Environmental Science

Communities and coasts: reflections of a lifetime of change on the water

Coastal communities are at the forefront of rapid and extreme changes today, but also have decades and generations of experiences responding to past disturbances and opportunities. This talk brings together these memories, experiences, and responses to a lifetime of change, shared by those making a livelihood from the sea. It draws on sixty-three oral history interviews undertaken with those who have lived and worked in the marine environment in four coastal communities in Devon and Cornwall. Hear about the diverse ways in which people are coping and transforming in the face of these changes and challenges.

Imali Manikarachchige

PhD Student, Future Towns Innovation Hub

Freya Ivy Palmer

PhD Student, Future Towns Innovation Hub

Beyond the catch: People behind UK seafood

From the nation’s favourite fish and chips to the early morning hauls that make it possible, seafood is deeply woven into UK life. But who are the people behind our catch, and how are they navigating the changing tides of regulation, markets, and the environment? Drawing on first-hand experiences with fishing communities across England, this talk explores the stories, challenges, and resilience of the UK’s fishermen and why their future matters for us all. Join Freya Ivy Palmer as she takes you beyond the catch to reveal the human side of our seafood.

Professor William Powrie

Director, iPACT Network

Professor Fraser Sturt

Director, Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute