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Sustainable Seas

Module description

Oceans and coastal environments sustain biodiversity, regulate climate, and support livelihoods but face increasing threats from climate change, pollution, and over-exploitation. This interdisciplinary module explores resilience and sustainability in marine/coastal ecosystems, covering blue carbon, nutrient cycles, ocean circulation, and climate change impacts. It examines conservation and restoration strategies alongside governance frameworks for sustainable resource management at local, national, and global scales. By engaging with these themes, students will develop critical skills to address marine and costal sustainability challenges and contribute to the long-term protection and resilience of our seas and coasts as they face increasing environmental change and anthropogenic pressures.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of this module is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of marine and coastal resilience and sustainability challenges, equipping them with the knowledge and critical skills necessary to address the complex challenges facing ocean and coastal ecosystems. Teaching staff will explore the functioning of one or more critical marine ecosystems (e.g. coral reefs, mangroves, salt marshes, nearshore and inshore ecosystems), the significance of blue carbon, nutrient cycling, and the role of marine conservation practices in safeguarding biodiversity and promoting resilience. The role of the ocean circulation in sustaining marine ecosystems and the impacts of climate change will be explored. Students will explore the myriad food, livelihood and other wellbeing benefits that societies and coastal communities derive from ocean and coastal systems, They will also engage with key concepts in ocean and coastal governance and sustainable resource management, focusing on how policies and frameworks are designed to mitigate threats from climate change, pollution, and overexploitation, as well as how considerations for equity and justice are coming to prominence in research and policy.

The module will include research-enriched learning opportunities, where students will critically engage with cutting-edge research in marine and coastal sciences. Teaching staff will incorporate current research from both academic and industry settings, and across the physical and social sciences, providing students with insights into the latest challenges and innovations in the field.

In terms of employability, this module and its assessments will enable students to develop and demonstrate key skills in critical analysis, evidence-based argumentation, and communication, while applying their learning to new contexts. This will help students refine their ability to evaluate complex marine social-ecological systems, build robust arguments, and effectively communicate findings to diverse audiences. These skills will be directly applicable to careers in marine research, conservation, environmental consultancy, and policy-making. Ultimately, the module aims to prepare students to contribute to the long-term protection and sustainable and equitable management of marine and coastal environments.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of key concepts in marine and coastal sustainability, which may include blue carbon, nutrient cycling, ecosystem dynamics, and the challenges posed by climate change, pollution, and overexploitation.
• 2. Critically assess the effectiveness of marine conservation practices and governance frameworks in promoting sustainability, resilience, and biodiversity protection in marine environments.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Analyse the interdisciplinary connections between marine science, environmental policy, and social systems, and explain the significance of scale and spatial distribution in addressing marine sustainability challenges.
• 4. Source, evaluate, and apply relevant scientific literature, data, and case studies to support evidence-based arguments and solutions for marine and coastal sustainability issues.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Communicate complex marine science concepts, sustainability challenges, and policy recommendations effectively to both expert and non-expert audiences.
• 6. Undertake independent research, demonstrating the ability to critically analyse information, synthesize diverse sources, and manage time effectively to produce high-quality work.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content varies from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics: 

• Oceans and Climate – The role of oceans in climate regulation, carbon cycling, and sustainability.
• Marine Nutrient Cycles – Key processes driving nutrient dynamics in marine systems.
• Ecosystem Services and Human Impacts – How marine and coastal ecosystems support biodiversity and human well-being, and the pressures they face.
• Sustainable Livelihoods and Resource Use – Contemporary debates on how people benefit from marine environments and the challenges of sustainability.
• Marine Policy and Governance – Approaches to managing and governing marine and coastal resources at different scales.
• Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Change – Environmental and human-driven changes affecting exemplar ecosystems and their broader consequences.
• Conservation, Management, and Adaptation – Strategies for protecting and restoring coastal / marine ecosystems and addressing governance challenges.
• Blue Economy and Blue Justice – Economic and social dimensions of sustainable ocean use.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment. 

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to sit a further examination or submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%. 

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Viles, H. and Spencer, T. (2014) Coastal problems: geomorphology, ecology and society at the coast. Routledge.
• Woodroffe, D.D. (2002) Coasts: form, process and evolution. Cambridge University Press.
• Perry C.T. and Taylor K.G. (Eds) (2007) Environmental Sedimentology. Wiley-Blackwell. Tropical Coastal Environments Chapter 9 Coral Reefs. p. 302-350
• Jouffray et al. 2020. The blue acceleration: the trajectory of human expansion into the ocean. One Earth 2 (2): 43-54
• Blythe et al. 2023. Blue Justice: a review of emerging scholarship and resistance movements. Coastal Futures: 1 (e-15): 1-12
• DeVries et al. 2022. The Ocean Carbon Cycle. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 47:317-341

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• IPCC Special report on the ocean and cryosphere in a changing climate. www.ipcc.ch/srocc/
• UN Decade for ocean science for sustainable development. www.oceandecade.org
• ELE

Key words search

Coastal science; ocean science; marine ecosystems; carbon cycle; ecosystem services; human impacts; marine governance; sustainability; blue economy.