• Development of a database and directory of coastal, marine and oceans public policy processes, legislation, sources of information and other resources;
• Development of a database and community network directory of people and organisations with expertise, experience and interest in the marine and coastal environment and biodiversity protection.
• The database and network will be based around a website hosted by Wellington Community Net with a CD version available for those with slow or limited internet access.

ECO is undertaking the project because it believes there is huge gap in New Zealand's conservation and resource management… there are many organisations and people working on terrestrial issues but much less effort goes into the marine environment, where the need is intense. Additionally, public and environment and community organization knowledge about and access to information on marine issues is patchy. Interested people are often confronted by a plethora of agencies and laws.

A lot of the information about marine issues is in government or other agency hands, much of it not very public. ECO's objective is to develop a resource and network that will allow individuals and groups with interests in the marine environment to use SeaNet to find information and each other and discover avenues for engagement. The network, database and directory will help people acquire knowledge and find expertise and facilitate input to public policy and resource management processes.

To develop SeaNet ECO has appointed a project team.

ECO, the Environment and Conservation Organisations of NZ, is the major national public advocacy umbrella group for environment and conservation issues. Its function is to promote the protection and enhancement of all elements of the environment for the benefit of present and future generations, a role it has played since our formation in 1973. We have 65 national and regional member organisations from throughout NZ concerned with conservation, natural resources and the environment.

SeaNet is the development of directory and database to link people, community groups and organisations with an interest and concern for the marine environment to information, resources and each other. Key components of the project include:

• Development of a database and directory of coastal, marine and oceans public policy processes, legislation, sources of information and other resources;
• Development of a database and community network directory of people and organisations with expertise, experience and interest in the marine and coastal environment and biodiversity protection.
• The database and network will be based around a website hosted by Wellington Community Net with a CD version available for those with slow or limited internet access.