Development of innovative tools for understanding marine biodiversity and assessing good environmental status: the EU project DEVOTES

AZTI-Tecnalia organized the XVII edition of SIEBM – Iberian Symposium on Marine Biology Studies, in Donostia – San Sebastián, from 11th to 14th September 2012. 
The objectives of the Symposia are to show the recent advances in marine biology research, within the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal, Spain and the Maccaronesian islands) and also South American countries. The research topics covered by the Symposium, divided in scientific sessions, include aquaculture and parasitism; benthic ecology; ecological assessment, environmental impacts and pollution monitoring; genetics and taxonomy; global change; management of living resources; modelling and habitat suitability; pelagic ecology; restoration, conservation and planning; and, finally, a miscellaneous section.

A special session on marine environment assessment has been organized, related to the European Water Framework Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. 

This article is the contribution given to the Symposium by the DEVOTES Coordinator, Àngel Borja.