Services

Marine environmental and ecological services

We work across a wide range of sectors in the blue economy, helping businesses and regulators in different industries operate sustainably and responsibly.

Why use Ocean Ecology

Our range of services covers surveys, monitoring, laboratory analysis, consultancy and bespoke data solutions for operators in the blue economy.

Comprehensive in-house solutions

We work both offshore and inshore in marine environments all around the world, including intertidal zones.

Our teams conduct Environmental Baseline Surveys (EBSs), Habitat Assessments (HAs) and Site Characterisation studies as well as providing Monitoring and Compliance services.

Samples are fully processed and analysed in our laboratories by our own dedicated marine scientists and data is analysed by our teams of expert consultants.

In addition, our specialist fish health unit provides consultancy, expert advice and support to the aquaculture sector.

Our focus is on preventative fish health and welfare management including training, and providing support in critical situations.

Quality results delivered on schedule

It is our goal to continually improve and to do so, we routinely bring innovation to our portfolio of services.

Alongside established field and laboratory techniques, we also offer new, cutting-edge technology that increases the precision and efficiency of our work while minimising the disruption to habitats.

By using our extensive assets and providing in-house services, we are also able to manage workloads better to provide the most timely, reliable and quality assured reporting.

our services

See our marine environmental and ecological services

Or go to our Sectors page to see what we routinely provide in your industry.

See our marine environmental and ecological services

Or go to our Sectors page to see what we routinely provide in your industry.

Environmental baseline surveys icon

Environmental baseline surveys

We assess physical, chemical, and biological conditions of the seabed for EBSs around the UK and all over the world
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Habitat assessments

We provide marine habitat assessments all over the world, covering offshore, inshore and intertidal zones
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site characterisation

We conduct geophysical, environmental and ecological surveys for the characterisation of the seabed and sub-seabed
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monitoring & compliance

We provide monitoring and compliance services to a wide range of marine sectors, from offshore wind to aquaculture

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fish health & welfare

We provide expert advice, experience and on-call services to aquaculture operations across Scotland and beyond

surveys index

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laboratory

Our teams process and analyse biological and physiochemical samples, images and other data in our specialist facilities
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data solutions

We offer bespoke services for the collation and interrogation of marine environmental and ecological data

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consultancy

Our experts provide evidence-based support to enable the sustainable use of marine resources

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Our route to success is to provide industry-leading customer service. To achieve this, we have developed a culture of continual improvement in everything we do.

Gary Robinson

Managing Director, Ocean Ecology

explore our projects

Picture of three whale fins breaking the surface of the ocean
Oil & Gas
Marine mammal mitigation during seismic surveys close to western gray whale feeding grounds
Visit project page: Marine mammal mitigation during seismic surveys close to western gray whale feeding grounds
Picture of survey crew deploying a grab over the side of a vessel at sea
Oil & Gas
Delivering full-service environmental survey for southern North Sea decommissioning
Visit project page: Delivering full-service environmental survey for southern North Sea decommissioning
Aerial picture of the rocky shore in the survey area
Offshore Wind
Spiorad na Mara Offshore Wind Farm Environmental Surveys
Visit project page: Spiorad na Mara Offshore Wind Farm Environmental Surveys
Picture of dolphins in the Celtic Sea
Offshore Wind
Celtic Sea pre-consenting survey: marine mammal and seabird observations
Visit project page: Celtic Sea pre-consenting survey: marine mammal and seabird observations
Picture of two survey team holding a dogfish landed in the survey at Allonby Bay
Regulatory Bodies
Fish survey helps understand the ecology of Allonby Bay HPMA
Visit project page: Fish survey helps understand the ecology of Allonby Bay HPMA
Picture of a survey crew member working on the boat at sunrise
Offshore Wind
Sofia Offshore Wind Farm: Pre-Construction Benthic Survey and Advisory Services
Visit project page: Sofia Offshore Wind Farm: Pre-Construction Benthic Survey and Advisory Services
Picture of three whale fins breaking the surface of the ocean
Oil & Gas
Marine mammal mitigation during seismic surveys close to western gray whale feeding grounds
Visit project page: Marine mammal mitigation during seismic surveys close to western gray whale feeding grounds
Picture of survey crew deploying a grab over the side of a vessel at sea
Oil & Gas
Delivering full-service environmental survey for southern North Sea decommissioning
Visit project page: Delivering full-service environmental survey for southern North Sea decommissioning
Aerial picture of the rocky shore in the survey area
Offshore Wind
Spiorad na Mara Offshore Wind Farm Environmental Surveys
Visit project page: Spiorad na Mara Offshore Wind Farm Environmental Surveys
Picture of dolphins in the Celtic Sea
Offshore Wind
Celtic Sea pre-consenting survey: marine mammal and seabird observations
Visit project page: Celtic Sea pre-consenting survey: marine mammal and seabird observations
Picture of two survey team holding a dogfish landed in the survey at Allonby Bay
Regulatory Bodies
Fish survey helps understand the ecology of Allonby Bay HPMA
Visit project page: Fish survey helps understand the ecology of Allonby Bay HPMA
Picture of a survey crew member working on the boat at sunrise
Offshore Wind
Sofia Offshore Wind Farm: Pre-Construction Benthic Survey and Advisory Services
Visit project page: Sofia Offshore Wind Farm: Pre-Construction Benthic Survey and Advisory Services

ocean ecology update

Aerial picture of a salmon farm in the sea close to the shore

Knowledge

21 Oct 2025
Sharing Scottish veterinarians' experiences in fish health with Iceland
Read article: Sharing Scottish veterinarians’ experiences in fish health with Iceland
Picture of two marine mammal observers looking out to sea through binoculars

News

9 Oct 2025
Secure OceanConnect portal streamlines sub-contractor management
Read article: Secure OceanConnect portal streamlines sub-contractor management
Picture of Ocean Ecology's Freshwater lens camera system ready to be deployed over the side of a boat

Knowledge

1 Sep 2025
Seeing through the murk: how freshwater housing camera systems can improve benthic surveys in low-visibility marine environments
Read article: Seeing through the murk: how freshwater housing camera systems can improve benthic surveys in low-visibility marine environments
Picture of two scientists working in an eDNA laboratory

Knowledge

23 Aug 2025
The benefits of eDNA analysis
Read article: The benefits of eDNA analysis
Picture of exposed Sabellaria reef on a seashore

Knowledge

21 Aug 2025

Exploring the seafloor with acoustic cameras: a closer look at Sabellaria spinulosa reefs

Read article: Exploring the seafloor with acoustic cameras: a closer look at Sabellaria spinulosa reefs
Benthic pic for MRO news story

News

12 Aug 2025
First tranche of data migrated to Marine Recorder Online
Read article: First tranche of data migrated to Marine Recorder Online
Picture of a fish farm in calm seas at dusk

Knowledge

12 Aug 2025
Looking ahead to 2030: strengthening aquaculture for a sustainable blue economy
Read article: Looking ahead to 2030: strengthening aquaculture for a sustainable blue economy
Picture of a group of salmon in a fish farm

Knowledge

15 Jun 2025
Aquaculture, benthic compliance and the IQI
Read article: Aquaculture, benthic compliance and the IQI
Picture of Sabellaria spinulosa reef

Knowledge

14 Jun 2025

Sabellaria spinulosa reef: a geophysical review

Read article: Sabellaria spinulosa reef: a geophysical review
Aerial picture of a salmon farm in the sea close to the shore

Knowledge

21 Oct 2025
Sharing Scottish veterinarians' experiences in fish health with Iceland
Read article: Sharing Scottish veterinarians’ experiences in fish health with Iceland
Picture of two marine mammal observers looking out to sea through binoculars

News

9 Oct 2025
Secure OceanConnect portal streamlines sub-contractor management
Read article: Secure OceanConnect portal streamlines sub-contractor management
Picture of Ocean Ecology's Freshwater lens camera system ready to be deployed over the side of a boat

Knowledge

1 Sep 2025
Seeing through the murk: how freshwater housing camera systems can improve benthic surveys in low-visibility marine environments
Read article: Seeing through the murk: how freshwater housing camera systems can improve benthic surveys in low-visibility marine environments