NOC, based in Southampton, was formed in April 2010 by the merger of two marine science institutions - the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory in Liverpool and the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton.

BBC: Glacier, Antarctic (Image: BAS)

The UK will be represented on the Executive Council by Mr Trevor Guymer from the National Oceanography Centre of the University of Southampton.

UNESCO: UK elected to UNESCO oceans body

Dr Simon Boxall, of the National Oceanography Centre at the University of Southampton, said earlier he thought the substance may have been dumped into the English Channel by a ship.

BBC: 'Refined mineral oils' blamed for bird contamination