BEEP has four main work-packages. One is for the developments of new biomarkers, and the three others represent validation and response studies in three different coastal regions (Mediterranean, Baltic and North Atlantic). The University of Bordeaux has the overall coordination of the project and RF- Rogaland Research has the responsibility of coordinating the North Atlantic activity.

BEEP - Biological Effects of Environmental Pollution in Marine Coastal Ecosystems.

BEEP was a three-year EU research program ( 01.02.2001 - 01.02.2004) of 4 million EURO with 30 participating Institutes.

The aim is to improve and develop knowledge of biological markers in marine organisms exposed to chemicals, thereby improving the quality of environmental data for the protection of the environment and consumers of marine food.

The program will determine and standardize a battery of biomarkers to be used on a variety of ecological relevant species and to be implemented in national and international monitoring programs. The methods should also be implicated in Environmental Risk Assessments to define acceptance criteria of exposure and effects and thereby representing sensitive methods that can be monitored in relevant field exposure scenarios. - See BEEP special issue of the journal Aquatic Toxicology