The Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) collaborated in the development of a user-friendly web application for the calculation of the biologic BEQI-index (Benthic Ecosystem Quality Index), making the ecologic assessment of coastal and transitional waters based on bottom animals (macrobenthos) - according to the Water Framework Directive - more accessible: www.beqi.eu.

Via the website www.beqi.eu one can upload data and perform the needed calculations to determine the BEQI-score.

The application was developed by order of the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management in The Netherlands and the Federal Public Service - Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment in Belgium. It was a cooperation with the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO), the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO-Fisheries) and the Institute for Marine Resources & Ecosystem Studies (IMARES).

Read more on the background pages of the BEQI-website.