Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey
Program Overview

The Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science (SAHFOS) is an international charity registered in the UK, that operates the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey. A program that has been monitoring the Health of the oceans since 1931.  SAHFOS is based in Plymouth, UK, and cooperates with sister CPR surveys around the globe. (from the SAHFOS web site). More

CPR Data Access

Update April 26, 2010

Program Management

The Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science (SAHFOS) has been collecting data from the North Atlantic and the North Sea on biogeography and ecology of plankton since 1931.

The CPR is a plankton sampling instrument designed to be towed from merchant ships on their normal sailings. Alister Hardy used the first prototype to sample krill in the Antarctic on the Discovery cruises of 1925-27. He modified the design for use in the North Sea, and started collecting plankton in the 1930s. The CPR was deployed in the North Sea regularly from 1946, on a number of routes.

The CPR team is based in Plymouth, England and consists of analysts, technicians, researchers and administrators, who all play an integral part in the running of the survey.

Mission Statement

The SAHFOS mission is to extend the work of the Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey and to use it to promote research, education and knowledge about the marine environment. (12/2005) (from the SAHFOS web site)

SAHFOS Management Structure

The Foundation is managed by Director Professor Peter Burkill who is accountable to the Council of management. The Council delegates responsibilities to the Director, under an Instrument which has been drafted. Within this framework the following structures have been established. (from the SAHFOS web site)

Council of management

The Membership of the council is made up of the President, Professor Patrick Holligan, Vice President, Dr R. Harris, Honorary Treasurer, Mr. A.G.A Wates, MBE and Trustees. Sponsoring Governors are appointed but are not Trustees. The Director of the Foundation is Secretary to the Council. The Council meets bi-annually, usually in Apr/May and Oct/Nov, with the AGM in the spring. (from the SAHFOS web site)

Foundation

Under the management of the Director, SAHFOS staff include Operations and Logistics personnel (responsible for the maintenance of the Continuous Plankton Recorders and the deployment of CPRs with ships of opportunity), Plankton Analysts, who are responsible for analysing the CPR plankton samples, Researchers who are usually also Analysts, IT staff for maintaining the CPR Database, and staff with Education and Administrative roles. (from the SAHFOS web site)

Contact Information

The Laboratory
Citadel Hill
Plymouth
PL1 2PB
Tel: +44 (0) 1752 633288 or +44 (0) 1752 633271
Fax +44 (0) 1752 600015

E-mail: sahfos[at]sahfos.ac.uk

Data Managers: Darren Stevens or David Johns

List of Staff