The MESH project, led by the UKs Joint Nature Conservation Committee, will focus on seabed areas within the NWE. Their diverse habitats and biodiversity are important food and energy resources as well as essential components of the ecosystem. The 12 partners from the MESH project will respond to the growing pressures on seabed habitats by putting in place a spatial planning framework. The main output is to provide a seabed habitat map for the NWE region, compile available information and harmonise it, by using the European Environment Agencys classification system. The project will include habitat modelling for those areas where information is incomplete or inconsistent so as to predict habitat distribution for unsampled areas. International standards based on the best available expertise will help ensure the quality of future mapping programmes. Internationally agreed standards will be developed and information will be made available using an internet-based GIS system. This project is truly transnational as it includes all five Member States in the NWE area. The project will result in common protocols and information systems to be used at transnational level. This framework will be put at the disposal of National networks so that they can continue to collate and improve habitat maps at national level and contribute, in turn, to the compilation and aggregation of data at international level. The total budget is around €8 million with 53% ERDF funding.