Our purpose
Our core remit is to provide advice and support to UK government and its agencies.
Cefas is an executive agency of the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Our work directly supports delivery of the aquatic-related aspects of Defra's Public Service Agreement targets and strategic objectives.
As an executive agency, we play a vital role in securing healthy marine and freshwater environments for everyone's well-being, health and prosperity.
This is achieved by providing evidence-based scientific advice, managing related data and information, conducting scientific research, and facilitating collaborative action through wide-ranging international relationships.
We apply our scientific expertise and knowledge to:
- conserve and enhance marine and wider aquatic environments and ecosystems
- ensure sustainable use of natural resources, in particular fish stocks
- collect, interpret and manage data to underpin decisions and to support long-term monitoring
- protect society and the economy from the effects of aquatic contaminants and fish diseases
- promote adaptation to the impacts of climate change on the aquatic environment and ecosystems
- enable government and other customers' response to emergencies.
We are a key delivery partner for Defra and for the Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA). The new Marine Management Organisation, which will be established through the Marine and Coastal Access Bill, will be a key partner in the future.
