1. descriptions of where particular habitats, communities and species occur, and
   
2. descriptions of the features of those habitats, communities and species which indicate sensitivity in relation to natural events and human activities.

In addition, the programme has developed an important educational role which provides information for the public and for those in schools and colleges including through recording schemes. The various activities of the MarLIN team are therefore divided between three sub-programmes.

1. The Seabed Data Access Sub-programme.

MarLIN provides access to marine life survey data through the Internet portal. There are currently 368 surveys collated by MarLIN containing over 250,000 species records.

Surveys are either flagged as professional surveys or as data collected by volunteer recorders as part of the Sealife Survey. Information about survey methodology can be found on the MarLIN Web site (www.marlin.ac.uk). MarLIN is the marine node of the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) and contributes data to the NBN Gateway (www.searchnbn.net).

Data ownership remains with the data provider and permission must be sought for commercial use of the data. For more information click here.

2. The Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme.

The Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Web pages are prepared through extensive library research on species and biotopes to summarize knowledge of their biology and environmental preferences and to assess likely sensitivity to a wide range of factors. Sensitivity is assessed through a protocol developed in collaboration with nature conservation agency, fisheries laboratory and academic institute staff. The key information pages provide a 'short-cut' to often very extensive literature.   Hypertext links access information describing statutes, directives and conventions and key literature sources.

3. The Biological Recording and Education Sub-programme.

MarLIN provides public educational materials and on-line recording through our learning zone. Features include species information pages, marine life topic pages, the bulletin board, seashore safaris, volunteer records and access to products such as seashore guides and events. For more information click here.

1. Has developed a Network for the location, cataloguing, collation and exchange of information on marine biodiversity in the coastal and shelf seas of Britain and Ireland.
   
2. Has provided the marine node to the UK National Biodiversity Network (NBN) adopting and helping to develop and promote its standards. 
   
3. Has developed facilities to access information from the Network of databases so that data on habitats, communities and species can be manipulated and displayed geographically and as text and pictures.
   
4. Links biodiversity information interactively with taxonomic, biological and sensitivity information derived from material held in the National Marine Biological Library and other sources to increase its value for environmental decision-making.
   
5. Has developed accessible 'front-end' dissemination media for research and educational use.
   
6. Interlinks data from various sources in a standardized format to facilitate common access to locational data on habitats, communities and species.
   
7. Has developed the tools to analyze information so that it is more directly useful for environmental decision-making required under a wide range of statutes, directives and conventions.
8. Has begun to develop spatial mapping tools using Geographical Information Systems (GIS), including linking survey data to sensitivity information to produce sensitivity maps.
9. Has established Sealife Survey recording projects including the preparation of identification guides and recording software.

• Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Services: CEFAS is an executive agency of the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (MAFF) and provides scientific advice to support the management of marine fisheries in England and Wales.  It is a statutory consultee for a range of licensing activities in coastal waters.

• The Countryside Council for Wales: CCW is the statutory agency responsible for nature conservation in Wales.

• The Crown Estates: The Crown Estates has extensive marine holdings throughout the United Kingdom including ownership of virtually all of the seabed out to the 12 mile territorial limit.

• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Marine, Land & Liability Division have responsibility for OSPAR and North Sea Ministerial meetings and contribute to the development of MEHRAs.

• Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland) (Environment & Heritage Service) and Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland (Agriculture and Environment Division): These two departments work closely together to implement statutes, directives and conventions in Northern Ireland.

• Department of Trade and Industry: The Oil and Gas Division have responsibility for oil and gas licensing in the UK EEZ including the definition of requirements for Environmental Impact Assessments.

• Environment Agency (National Data Centre for Environmental Data and Surveillance): The EA have responsibility for the protection of estuarine and coastal waters and research experience feeding into both information sources and assessing sensitivity.

• Environmental Heritage Service: EHS takes the lead in advising on, and in implementing, the Government's environmental policy and strategy in Northern Ireland. The Agency carries out a range of activities, which promote the Government's key themes of sustainable development, biodiversity and climate change.

• English Nature: EN is the statutory agency with responsibility for nature conservation in England and have assigned Keith Hiscock to continue work on MarLIN.

• Fisheries Research Service: FRS is an agency of the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD). FRS provides expert scientific and technical advice to Government on marine and freshwater fisheries, aquaculture and the protection of the aquatic environment.

• The Joint Nature Conservation Committee: The JNCC is the forum through which country nature conservation agencies in Great Britain deliver their joint functions. JNCC represents the interests of the nature conservation agencies on the MarLIN Steering Group. The MNCR database is maintained by JNCC and the National Biodiversity Network Secretariat is based in JNCC.

• The Marine Biological Association: The MBA is leading on the MarLIN programme and draws on the facilities being developed in the Marine Biological Resource Centre and available in the National Marine Biological Library.

• The Marine Conservation Society: MCS is the UK's national charity dedicated to the protection of the marine environment and its wildlife.

• The National Biodiversity Network: NBN is a new and innovative way of sharing wildlife information in the UK and is building tools to make this information accessible in a digitised and exchangeable form. MarLIN contributes to the NBN through the submission of survey data to the NBN Gateway.

• The National Marine Aquarium: NMA is an educational charity operating a world-class public marine aquarium at Plymouth. The NMA employs teaching staff who will contribute to the development of educational software which will draw information from the data collected and developed by MarLIN.

• National Museums of Scotland: The NMS Scotland and elsewhere. Educational developments will be advised from NMS and the museum will provide one of two bases for the development of MarLIN in Scotland.

• The National Museums of Wales: The NMW has extensive collections and records from Wales and elsewhere. It has a strong marine team and will provide a base for MarLIN in Wales.

• The Natural History Museum: The NHM has a large number of marine biologists and national collections. It has a particular strength relevant to the balance of the steering group in algal taxonomy and information. They are partners in the National Biodiversity Network.

• Plymouth Marine Laboratory: PML exists to carry out fundamental, core strategic and applied marine research of a world-class standard. The current (2001 - 2006) core research programme is a research contract with the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and has a mission to contribute to the issues of climate change, marine pollution and sustainability - topics that are of national and worldwide importance.

• The Scottish Association for Marine Science: SAMS, based at the Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, promotes research and education in marine science. SAMS may provide one of the Scottish bases for work on MarLIN.

• The Scottish Environment Protection Agency: SEPA is charged with management of estuaries and coastal waters in Scotland.

• Scottish Natural Heritage: SNH is the statutory agency with responsibility for nature conservation in Scotland.

• The Wildlife Trusts: TWT have a membership of amateur and professional naturalists and members of the public interested in wildlife and its protection. Their membership is a potential resource for biological recording and the development of recording centres. They are partners in the National Biodiversity Network.

• The Ulster Museum: is undertaking recording projects in Northern Ireland and is the Northern Ireland base for work on MarLIN. BioMar Viewer has been further developed at the Ulster Museum.