Sea & health

SEA AND HEALTH

The health of the ocean is closely tied to human health, as the ocean plays a critical role in regulating the earth’s climate and providing food and other resources. The ocean absorbs a significant portion of the carbon dioxide produced by human activities, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change. The ocean also provides food for billions of people and is a source of medicine and other resources.

However, human activities such as pollution and overfishing are putting the ocean’s health at risk, which can have negative impact on human health. Human induced stressors can have cascading effects on the ocean’s health and the human communities that depend on it. Here, we investigate the health of the ocean, the human health, and the interactions between both. We rely on observations, models and experiments in order to understand the underlying mechanisms.

Projects

Marine Systems Approaches for Biodiversity Resilience and Ecosystem Sustainablity

Marine SABRES will enable and upscale Ecosystem Based Management across Europe and abroad on a course to reverse biodiversity decline, it will conserve and protect biodiversity by integrating sustainable ecosystems and a resilient blue economy

Marine Systems Approaches for Biodiversity Resilience and Ecosystem Sustainablity

Where are All the (proglacial) Lake seDiments in the NOrth Sea Basin?

Proglacial lakes are believed to have existed in the southern North Sea. Evidence of these lakes is elusive. By using high-resolution geophysical data and cores, we will test the hypothesis that proglacial lakes were important features in the

Imaging data and services for aquatic science

This project will deploy, operate, validate, and promote a dedicated iMagine AI framework and platform, connected to EOSC and AI4EU, giving researchers in aquatic sciences open access to a diverse portfolio of AI based image analysis services and

EU Public Infrastructure for the European DIgital Twin Ocean

The main aim of EDITO-Infra, the EU Public Infrastructure for the European Digital Twin, is to build the EU Public Infrastructure backbone for the European Digital Twin of the Ocean (DTO) by upgrading, combining and integrating key service

Fisheries Innovation for sustainable SHared INTerchannEL resources

The project's main objective is the Provision of evidence to statutory and fisheries enforcement bodies on the identification of essential fish habitats and successful implementation of ecosystem based fisheries management."

PhD-project BluePsychology - How coastal environments improve psychological wellbeing: underlying mechanisms

The overall aim of this PhD is to assess the emotional mechanisms of awe and nostalgia as potential mediators in the effect of coastal environments on psychological wellbeing, and more specifically the reduction of stress.

BlueHealth

Health implications of social and physical activities in coastal environments along the Belgian Coast.

Corona survey

Are visits to the coast associated with a higher mental health than visits to green or urban spaces and do they trigger emotions that positively mediate the relationship between these visits and mental health?

News

Sea & health

Removing plastics from aquatic environments: challenges and opportunities

12/03/2025 - 14:00

Plastic pollution remains one of the most pressing social and environmental challenges worldwide. In response, a range of mitigation strategies have been implemented including policy interventions and legislative frameworks, the development of alternative materials, and technological innovations aimed at removing existing plastics from the environment. In her PhD thesis defended on December 3 2025...