News

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.

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.

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...

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...

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...

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.

Ocean experts from Europe, Brazil, South Africa, Canada and the US join forces to map and assess both current and future risks from climate change, disasters and human impact on the entire Atlantic ecosystems.

The new results of the national monitoring programme for Belgian marine recreational fisheries, with the focus year 2019, reveal higher catches of sea bass compared to 2018, but also indicate a worrying decline in cod catches in the southern North Sea.

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.

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...

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...

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.

The VLIZ Marine Science Day 2021 will come with a spicy and concise digital program on 3 March 2021. Send us your abstract for an online presentation or digital poster (video) presentation before December 16.

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.

On 6 October a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to confirm the existing Flemish-Ecuadorian cooperation in marine research and strengthen the exchange of data, information and expertise between the two countries.

To recognize the work of meritorious marine researchers, encourage them to continue doing this in the future, and promote marine scientific research in Flanders: that is what the Flanders Marine Institute wants to achieve with its annual science awards. Until 13 December, candidates for the VLIZ North Sea Award, VLIZ Master Thesis Awards and VLIZ Professional Bachelor Thesis Award can register for...

On 30 June Flemish Minister of Economy, Innovation and Agriculture Hilde Crevits laid the symbolic foundation stone of the new InnovOcean Campus. By the end of 2022, this state-of-the-art and energy efficient building will be the new accommodation for the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) and its (inter)national partners, where we will co-house with the Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries...

The amount of plastic in rivers and the ocean is increasing all the time. Within the frame of the PLUXIN project, Flemish scientists, entrepreneurs and The Blue Cluster are joining forces to map the plastics transported to the sea via ports and rivers, using innovative and automatic detection methods. The ultimate goal is to provide solutions and to set up pioneering commercial initiatives in...