The publication of the final Sustainable Management of Marine Resources (SMMR) programme report marks a significant moment for UK marine science. It shows what can be achieved when research is deliberately designed to support real-world decision-making and when interdisciplinary teams are given the structures and incentives to work together effectively. The programme has delivered not only new evidence, but also a model for how research, policy and practice can be better aligned in a rapidly changing marine environment.
A programme built around users and practical needs
One of SMMR’s defining features was its focus on users, marine managers, regulators, industry groups, conservation bodies and communities. Projects were required to embed engagement from the outset, ensuring that research questions were grounded in the realities of spatial planning, cumulative impacts, governance and socio-economic considerations. This shifted the emphasis from generating isolated scientific outputs to producing insights that could directly inform decisions. In a sector often hampered by fragmented evidence, SMMR’s integrated and decision-ready approach has been particularly valuable.
Interdisciplinary collaboration delivered in practice
The final report highlights how SMMR achieved genuine interdisciplinarity, something often discussed in principle but difficult to implement. Ecologists, modellers, economists, behavioural scientists and policy specialists worked on shared problems rather than in parallel silos. This produced a more holistic understanding of marine challenges and helped build capacity, especially for early-career researchers who gained experience working closely with policy and industry. The programme demonstrated that complexity can be managed effectively when structures support collaboration from the start.
A template for future environmental research programmes
Beyond its individual projects, SMMR has shown what strategic research commissioning can look like. Its emphasis on co-production, community building and legacy, through tools, datasets, decision-support systems and lasting partnerships, offers a template that other sectors can adopt. As demands on evidence increase, from offshore energy planning to marine nature recovery, programmes built on these principles will be essential.
Looking ahead
Although the formal programme has ended, its influence will continue. The challenge now is to maintain the networks and momentum SMMR created, ensuring that its outputs support decision-making and that its lessons shape future research funding and design. SMMR represents more than a set of completed projects; it provides a model for how the UK can better connect science, policy and practice to support healthier seas and more resilient marine economies.