About us
Cefas makes an important contribution to securing healthy and sustainable marine and freshwater environments so that current and future generations can prosper.
As the UK's largest and most diverse applied marine science centre, we help to shape and implement policy through our internationally renown science and collaborative relationships that span the EU, UK government, non-governmental organisations, research centres and industry.
Our work takes us from freshwater to the open ocean, and includes both wild and farmed fish. Our influence and leadership spans a wide spectrum of issues, including:
- climate change impacts and adaptation
- marine spatial planning and environmental licensing
- sustainable fisheries management
- marine biodiversity and habitats
- fish and shellfish health and hygiene
- emergency response.
We support this by collecting, managing and interpreting environmental, biodiversity and fisheries data.
Cefas is an executive agency of the UK government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Many Cefas scientists are leaders in their fields and advisors on international bodies such as the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).
- Cefas framework document (PDF, 508 KB)
- The Framework Document sets out the purpose and responsibilities of Cefas and our relationships with Defra and other bodies.
- Annual report
- Our latest set of annual reports and accounts, available to either download or to order a hard copy.
- Cefas business plan (PDF, 265 KB)
- Business plan, including priorities for 2010/11
- Customers
- Much of our work is conducted for the UK government and the European Union where our research and advice contributes to policy-making.
- Our history
- Links to a written history of our scientific heritage, and a brief history of Cefas in pictures.
- Working standards
- Information on our reputation, charter and public service guarantees.
- Research vessel
- Specifications of our ocean-going research vessel, the Cefas Endeavour.
