A concerted action (CA) at European scale with the participation of 21 institutes is organised to establish over a period of 2 years the infrastructure and conditions required for marine biodiversity research. Implementation and networking of large-scale long-term Marine Biodiversity research in Europe: BIOMARKE.

A concerted action (CA) to establish the infrastructure and conditions required for marine biodiversity research at an European scale. The CA will enhance Marine Biodiversity Research in Europe through a network of marine institutes establishing an agreed series of reference stations and indicators. This allows inter-site comparisons and long term surveys, maximises the integration of efforts in marine biodiversity research at pan-European scale for students, researchers and managers dealing with socio-economic questions, and increases the awareness of the public.

PROBLEM DEFINITION:
Consensus has grown that concertation and co-ordination at European scale is urgently required to implement long-term and large-scale marine biodiversity research and to plan the adequate use of the European research infrastructure. Many research questions cannot be addressed at local scales and require cooperation and the establishment of a committed network of scientists and institutes. There is no agreed common methodology for many aspects of biodiversity research; this needs careful preparation. A concerted action at European scale is proposed to establish the infrastructure and conditions required for marine biodiversity research.
OBJECTIVES: To achieve a European consensus on the selection and implementation of:
- 1) a network of Reference Sites as the basis for long-term and large-scale marine biodiversity research in Europe,
- 2) internationally agreed standardised and normalised measures and indicators for (the degree of) biodiversity,
- 3) facilities for capacity building, dissemination and networking of marine biodiversity research, by:
a) workshops,
b) improving training and mobility,
c) an internet web-site including an overview of ongoing research programs and existing infrastructure for marine biodiversity research in Europe,
d) a database on, reviewed and evaluated, available data, aiming at employing data for socio-economic questions such as the impact of fisheries or tourism. NIOO-CEME will act as the coordinator of the project
PLANNING 2003: Publication of books