The associative structure offers a high flexibility that can facilitate the setting up of projects and efficient communication : between each member on the one hand (through communication and so enhancement of the expertise together with institutes such as IFREMER (Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer – French research Insitute for the use of the sea), French water agency, universities…) and politicians and managers on the other hand. The originality and strengh of the group reside in its ability to deal both with fundamental research and practical applications.

GEMEL is dedicated to methodological and inter calibration approaches and to ecological surveys. It further provides objective expertise and carries out monitoring in a long term perspective (long data series of selected parameters, mainly in the Somme, Seine and Veys). Such data is valuable face to an increasing pollution risk. It also provides knowledge of community dynamics and biodiversity in the context of the global change, helping to distinguish between « natural » and anthropogenic influences. The understanding of trends is necessary to supporting the rational and integrated management of sensitive areas such as estuaries.

L’Estuarine and Coastal Sciences Association
The Estuarine and Coastal Sciences Association is an international organization dedicated to the study of all aspects of estuarine and coastal marine science, and also the application of science for conservation and environmental management. ECSA is the successor of Brackish-Water Science Association wich was founded in 1971.
The association provides a platform and a forum encouraging multidisciplinarity approaches to scientific research and integrated management of estuarine, coastal and marine environments.
Although the traditionnal focus of ECSA lies in Europe, activities, interests and membership now extend to many other global regions.
ECSA is involved in the organization of one or more major conferences each year, 40 to date. The 2004/2005 conferences were held in Australia, France, England and the Netherlands. ECSA has also supported many local meetings concerning individual estuaries or coastal areas, and arranged scientific workshops from time to time.
ECSA has an associated international journal Estuarine and Coastal Shelf Science and also supports the production of a variety of other scientific publications including a bulletin for members, with two issues each year.

MEDCOAST

MEDCOAST aims to contribute to coastal and marine conservation in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, through improved coastal management practices. This goal is pursued by enhancing scientific and professional collaboration among individuals and insti tutes (networking) in the Mediterranean & Black Sea countries, or elsewhere, for the purposes of:
Producing means to improve our understanding of physical, bio-chemical and ecological processes taking place in the Mediterranean and Black Sea coastal and sea environment, and their interactions with human activities, (research component);

Facilitating the utilization of scientific knowledge and modern management tools in achieving integrated coastal and sea management, (conferences, training programs, publications, newsletter);

Complementing and contributing to the existing efforts having similar goals, most notably those of the UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP MAP), Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (UNESCO-IOC), the GEF Black Sea Environmental Program me (GEF BSEP), the future Black Sea Action Plan, and NATO (all components).