Operated by the Marine Biological Association,

the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey

is one of the world's longest running

and most geographically extensive

marine ecological surveys

Guinness World Records
Towing since 1931 and over 9 decades of analysis

100’s of scientists around the world are using CPR data

The CPR Survey has now towed over 7.5 million nautical miles

We collect plankton coupled with ocean physical, chemical and biological observations

Our data are freely available and collaborations encouraged
OPERATIONS / TAXONOMY / INSTRUMENTATION / DATA ANALYSIS / POLICY MAKERS / SCIENTISTS

The future of the CPR Survey

The iCPR project: Integrating artificial intelligence throughout all CPR activities

Our Future

Welcome to the CPR Survey

The Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey is the most geographically extensive marine monitoring programme in the world. Started in 1931. Today the Survey is operated by the Marine Biological Association, based in Plymouth, UK.

Years Towing

7501431

Total Nautical Miles Towed

659

Taxa Routinely Analysed

3636907

Taxonomic Abundance Entries

Key Services

Marine biological datasets provide a wide range of environmental and climatic indicators to address marine environmental management issues such as Harmful Algal Blooms, pollution, climate change and fisheries

Research

At the base of the marine foodweb, the free floating plant life of the sea (phytoplankton) provide food for the animal plankton (zooplankton) which in turn provide food for many other marine organisms

Find Out More

Policy Makers

Policy drivers continue to influence research at the CPR Survey and an important aim of the organisation is to use CPR data and the expertise of Survey scientists to deliver evidence-based advice to policy makers and ecosystem managers

Find Out More

Data

The CPR Survey is unique in having comparable data on the geographical distribution, seasonal cycles and year-to-year changes in abundance of plankton over a large spatial area

Find Out More