QBEX is a Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) funded project.

Scientists from the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom (MBA), the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), the Universities of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Plymouth, Heriott-Watt, International Centre for Island Technology, (Orkney Campus) and Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) are working on it.

It is one of four NERC/DEFRA funded Marine Renewable Energy Projects through the NERC Marine Renewable Energy Knowledge Exchange Programme.

Overview

The project addresses the extent to which the ‘spillover’ of bioresource space use and abundance (species of commercial, ecological and conservation importance) enhance adjacent areas.

The specific objectives are:

To quantify the spatio-temporal change in distribution and abundance of commercial species
To determine and value any spillover effect of bioresource abundance from Marine Renewable sites to adjacent areas.
To identify the extent to which changes represent spatial re-distribution or increased abundance,

Contact:
Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
The Laboratory
Citadel Hill
Plymouth
PL1 2PB
UK
Tel: +44 (0)1752 633227
Fax: +44 (0)1752 633102