diff --git a/src/parcels/_core/fieldset.py b/src/parcels/_core/fieldset.py
index a339453eb..3ceb86318 100644
--- a/src/parcels/_core/fieldset.py
+++ b/src/parcels/_core/fieldset.py
@@ -235,15 +235,14 @@ def from_copernicusmarine(ds: xr.Dataset):
                 },
                 autoparse_metadata=False,
                 **_DEFAULT_XGCM_KWARGS,
-            )
+            ),
+            mesh="spherical",
         )
 
         fields = {}
         if "U" in ds.data_vars and "V" in ds.data_vars:
             fields["U"] = Field("U", ds["U"], grid, XLinear)
             fields["V"] = Field("V", ds["V"], grid, XLinear)
-            fields["U"].units = GeographicPolar()
-            fields["V"].units = Geographic()
 
             if "W" in ds.data_vars:
                 ds["W"] -= ds[
diff --git a/tests/test_fieldset.py b/tests/test_fieldset.py
index 53dc1419e..844f98234 100644
--- a/tests/test_fieldset.py
+++ b/tests/test_fieldset.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 import pytest
 import xarray as xr
 
-from parcels import Field, ParticleFile, ParticleSet, VectorField, XGrid
+from parcels import Field, Geographic, GeographicPolar, ParticleFile, ParticleSet, VectorField, XGrid
 from parcels._core.fieldset import CalendarError, FieldSet, _datetime_to_msg
 from parcels._datasets.structured.circulation_models import datasets as datasets_circulation_models
 from parcels._datasets.structured.generic import T as T_structured
@@ -259,6 +259,14 @@ def test_fieldset_from_copernicusmarine(ds, caplog):
     assert "renamed it to 'V'" in caplog.text
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("ds", _COPERNICUS_DATASETS)
+def test_grid_mesh_units_from_copernicusmarine(ds):
+    fieldset = FieldSet.from_copernicusmarine(ds)
+    assert fieldset.U.grid._mesh == "spherical"
+    assert isinstance(fieldset.U.units, GeographicPolar)
+    assert isinstance(fieldset.V.units, Geographic)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("ds", [datasets_circulation_models["ds_copernicusmarine"].copy()])
 def test_fieldset_from_copernicusmarine_missing_axis(ds, caplog):
     del ds["latitude"].attrs["axis"]