News

More harmful algal bloom impacts emerge amid rising seafood demand and coastal development

06/08/2021 - 13:55
UN delivers the first-ever global assessment report after 7 years’ work by 109 experts in 35 countries – among them VLIZ researcher Maarten De Rijcke – creating a baseline to detect and gauge the changing distribution, frequency, and intensity of harmful, often poisonous algal blooms. Trends in the number of HAB events found to vary across regions. Overexploitation, however, acts as a natural...

RV Simon Stevin receives ICOS label for standardised greenhouse gas measurements

06/07/2021 - 16:15
ICOS, Integrated Carbon Observation System, announces that 12 more greenhouse gas measurement stations have passed the rigorous ICOS quality assurance process for standardised data production. The newly certified stations, among which the Flemish research vessel Simon Stevin, are located in seven out of 13 ICOS member countries, and in all three ICOS domains – atmosphere, ecosystem and ocean...

MarineRegions Exclusive Economic Zones now featured as essential map on MarineTraffic.com

05/20/2021 - 15:52
Ever since the Ever Given incident, MarineTraffic needs no introduction. Chances are you have taken a look yourself to check the status of the unfortunate ship in the Suez Canal. MarineTraffic displays the movement of over 550.000 vessels worldwide, based on their Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals. The website attracts millions of users on a monthly basis. Since March 31st, these...

Student job vacancies at VLIZ for summer 2021

05/19/2021 - 16:48
Every year VLIZ recruits several job students for the summer months of July, August or September. For the summer of 2021 we are still looking for a number of enthusiastic students with knowledge of IT, video editing, journalism and language. You can submit your candidacy until June 15, 2021.

Flanders supported research data infrastructures played key role in UN Ocean report

05/10/2021 - 13:06
On 21 April 2021, the United Nations launched its second World Ocean Assessment (WOA II). In this 1,000-page document, hundreds of marine scientists assessed the current state of the world's oceans, and identifies knowledge gaps. Among them also experts from the Ostend based VLIZ data center and ‘Ocean Biogeographic Information System’ (OBIS), both supported by Flanders.

Annual report summarizes the achievements of VLIZ in 2020

04/20/2021 - 16:40
The 2020 annual report presents the highlights for VLIZ in 2020 and focuses on the services VLIZ offers to the marine scientific community, policymakers, the industry, educators and the general public. Performance indicators (KPIs), numbers and lists all together give a transparent overview of the organization and functioning of the institute.

Cutting edge technology to enhance the habitats of key fish species

03/12/2021 - 17:30
A cross-Channel partnership will use innovative underwater acoustic tracking technology to identify the environmental conditions a range of important marine species need in order to thrive. The €4million FISH INTEL project, supported by €2.8million from the European Regional Development Fund via the Interreg France (Channel) England programme, will focus on a series of sites along the coastlines...

Explore Flanders Blue Research and Innovation system

03/02/2021 - 16:54
Today, on the eve of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), Flanders takes stock of its true maritime identity, its broad expertise, long-standing traditions, maritime skills and capacities. It reaches out to share these and shape strong and far-reaching collaborations based on ocean science, knowledge and innovative approaches. A new publication 'Gearing up our...

LifeWatch Flanders ready for a new start to next level

02/10/2021 - 13:36
Did you know Flanders has been able to develop a unique set of biodiversity data systems and observation infrastructure? And that these services are consulted daily by hundreds to thousands of users worldwide? This achievement was possible due to the many years (2012-2020) of commitment by the Flemish government to the European LifeWatch ESFRI infrastructure – an ambitious project to support...

Construction of the InnovOcean Campus on schedule

01/26/2021 - 11:23
Barely 7 months after laying the foundation stone of the new InnovOcean Campus in Oostende the shell of the six-storey building is a fact. The boards of ILVO and VLIZ visited the site in the presence of the contractor. They were assured that the construction is well on track to move into the new campus in the autumn of 2022.

Artificial reefs help keep an eye on marine ecosystems

12/17/2020 - 17:20
Researchers have created a network of more than 130 artificial reefs – Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) – on the ocean floor in all the European regional seas, helping scientists to understand long-term changes in coastal habitats and providing an early warning system for the arrival of non-indigenous species, the impact of climate change or human activities.

Global Ocean Science Report 2020 reports on global marine research capacity

12/15/2020 - 17:50
Based on data collected from around the world, the second Global Ocean Science Report 2020 (GOSR2020) offers a global record of how, where and by whom ocean science is conducted. The GOSR monitors our capacity to understand the ocean and seize new opportunities for research and innovation. VLIZ director Jan Mees has personally co-shared the editorial board of the report that was be launched by...

Citizen science on the North Sea under the microscope

12/09/2020 - 16:50
The number of projects involving citizen scientists in the North Sea area has increased significantly in recent years. No fewer than 127 marine citizen science initiatives had the North Sea as their study area. Almost half of the initiatives focus on the investigation and follow-up of one or more plant or animal species. But many projects also zoom in on marine litter. This shows the first...

A brilliant research idea? Claim a BMRI grant!

12/08/2020 - 14:27
VLIZ philanthropy opens five grants worth 5.000 euro to young, original thinking marine researchers. PhD students and junior postdocs in Flanders, as well as PhD students from the South, who dare to think out-of-the-box, are eligible for this research funding. Deadline for proposals: 29 January 2021.

VLIZ expands its research capacity in the new 'Ocean Innovation Space'

10/07/2020 - 16:52
On the 2nd of October 2020, the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) launched the 'Ocean Innovation Space', an expansion of its Marine Station Ostend. With the new building, VLIZ will be able to increase its research capacity and meet the intensive and rapid growth of the institute.