The project is a collaboration between the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW). The joint strategy and objectives are laid down in the cooperation agreement. The project is divided into four work packages.

Work package 1 (WP1): FFH monitoring
Annual macrozoobenthos sampling to fulfil national monitoring tasks in accordance with the European Fauna-Flora-Habitat (FFH) Directive.

Work package 2 (WP2): MSFD monitoring
Annual macrozoobenthos sampling to fulfil national monitoring tasks in accordance with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) .

Work package 3 (WP3): Biotope modelling and map creation
Knowledge of the spatial distribution of biotopes is used to establish monitoring and quality assurance for nature conservation measures and forms the basis for nationally and regionally required status assessments, conservation value assessments, protected area management and impact regulation.

Work package 4 (WP4): Knowledge transfer
Project management and consulting activities as well as data transfer, publications and committee work based on the results achieved in work packages 1 to 3.