MarBEF Data System (Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning) was a project of the European Union's Network of Excellence[2] which served as a platform to integrate and disseminate knowledge and expertise on marine biodiversity, with informative links to researchers, industry, stakeholders and the general public.
[3] The data system's online Register of Resources (RoR) includes the details of over 1,000 European marine biology experts and their affiliated institutions and publications.
[1] To accomplish its goals MarBEF participated in and/or supported multiple conferences and workshops to educate and strengthen collaboration between members of the scientific community.
[4] European Marine Gazetteer was the MarBEF database of geographic locations (names, information, maps), made available for download by the public.
[12] The executive committee of the project includes: Dr. Mark Costello (Chief editor) of the University of Auckland, Prof. Philippe Bouchet of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Prof. Geoff Boxshall of the United Kingdom's Natural History Museum, and Mr. Ward Appeltans from UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.