PML Leads £5.6 Million ValMAS Project to Quantify Ecological and Societal Value of Marine Artificial Structures

PML Leads £5.6 Million ValMAS Project to Quantify Ecological and Societal Value of Marine Artificial Structures

(IN BRIEF) ValMAS, led by Plymouth Marine Laboratory and co-funded by NERC and the INSITE Programme, is a £5.6 million, four-year research collaboration involving UK and Norwegian institutions. Concentrating on the North Sea, the project will evaluate the environmental, social, and economic impacts of marine artificial structures—such as offshore energy infrastructure and shipwrecks—across their lifecycles. By mapping MAS, modeling climate scenarios, studying contaminant mobilization, and examining public perceptions, ValMAS aims to deliver practical natural-capital frameworks and decision-support tools. Key partners include the University of Aberdeen, NIVA, Natural England, and industry stakeholders. The initiative seeks to guide policymakers and industry toward net-zero targets, nature recovery, and an equitable energy transition.

(PRESS RELEASE) ABERDEEN, 3-Jul-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) will lead a £5.6 million ValMAS (Value of Marine Artificial Structures) initiative, uniting university researchers and partners across the UK and Norway to evaluate the comprehensive impacts of man-made installations in the ocean. Focusing on the North Sea—with lessons for coastal zones nationwide and beyond—ValMAS will develop evidence and decision-support tools to help managers balance clean-energy development, nature protection, and societal benefits.

Marine artificial structures (MAS)—from offshore oil, gas, and wind infrastructure to historic shipwrecks—leave ecological, social, and economic footprints throughout their lifecycles: demonstration, construction, operation, and decommissioning. While MAS can create habitats, boost blue-carbon storage, and enhance biodiversity, they may also mobilize contaminants or introduce unforeseen risks. As marine space becomes more contested, understanding these trade-offs is critical.

Professor Nicola Beaumont of PML, ValMAS’s project lead, explained: “Thousands of artificial structures already dot our seas—and many more are planned as the UK shifts to clean energy. ValMAS will arm policymakers and industry with the tools they need to meet net-zero ambitions while advancing nature recovery.” The programme is co-funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the industry-backed INSITE Programme.

At the University of Aberdeen, Professor Astley Hastings (School of Biological Sciences) will spearhead mapping MAS to build a natural-capital framework reflecting ecological, economic, and social value. Marine eco-toxicologist Dr Rebecca von Hellfeld and interdisciplinary environmental manager Dr Kate Gormley will fill experimental gaps on contaminant mobilization and marine growth on structures. Professor Anne-Michelle Slater (School of Law) will assess the policy and legislative landscape governing MAS.

Professor Hastings noted that ValMAS will also model future climate scenarios, evaluate impacts on fisheries and carbon storage, and survey public perceptions and economic trade-offs to ensure an equitable energy transition. “Although tools and evidence on MAS and natural capital exist, they’re underused. We’ll translate knowledge into practical, user-driven decision-making resources ready for real-world application.”

ValMAS brings together more than 30 partners, including the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Cardiff University, Natural England, SUERC, the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde, EFTEC, Ecologos, NIRAS, Marine Energy Wales, the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, The Shellfish Association of Great Britain, and the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations—alongside government bodies, NGOs, and major energy operators.

Tracy Shimmield, NERC’s Director of Research and Skill, said: “ValMAS will generate evidence on the ecological, economic, and social interplay of MAS, informing nature-positive policies for the full lifecycle of these structures. Its findings will guide environmentally sound decommissioning decisions.” Professor Beaumont added: “This programme is about people and nature—building a future where sustainable energy systems coexist with thriving marine ecosystems.”

ValMAS launches in August 2025 and will run for four years.

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SOURCE: University of Aberdeen