Introduction

Marine scientists generally conduct their research on few species, in small areas, and over a short period of time. Their studies, taken separately, therefore fail to inform solutions to the enormous ecological problems facing European seas. Brought together, existing datasets will provide a powerful information resource. One of the main objectives of MarBEF Data Management is to create an integrated database of biogeographical information. This database will be the European contribution to the global Ocean Biogeographic Information System, EurOBIS. To support this database, a taxonomic authority file and standard gazetteer are needed. The results of an earlier EU project, the European Register of Marine Species (ERMS) will be the basis of the taxonomic authority file. Also a standard gazetteer will be needed, and will be developed, in collaboration with selected institutes in each of the participating countries.

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This responsive mode project is to provide a mechanism for MarBEF partners to cover costs of preparing data for submission to the MarBEF data system.

Every MarBEF partner can spend 40,000 Euros from the RMP budget and 1,000 Euros from the partner budget on data logging activities, under the specific conditions of MarBEF.

The database that results from this responsive mode action, and from other activities, will be made available to the network to conduct the analyses and in general achieve the objectives and deliverables of the network.

All the information that is stored in the MarBEF database is subject to the rules of the MarBEF data policy.