The Sea Mammal Research Unit is one of the foremost institutions carrying out research on marine mammals in the World. With over 60 staff and students, SMRU represents a formidable concentration of expertise and talent in the field of marine mammalogy and, more generally, in marine ecology and the development of telemetry tags.

The mission of the SMRU is to carry out fundamental research into the biology and ecology of upper trophic level predators in the oceans and, through its statutory responsibilities, provide advice to Government in the UK about the management of seal and cetacean populations.