Cooperation

The cooperation with Belgian and foreign universities, research institutes and individual research groups is constantly elaborated by concluding collaboration agreements. The VLIZ furthermore participates in national and international networks and takes care of the image of the Flemish marine and coastal research. The data management of numerous projects is in the hands of the FMDC.

National cooperation agreements have been concluded with:

• Ghent University, Biology department - biodiversity databases
prof. dr. M. Vincx - meiobenthos/macrobenthos/hyperbenthos/epibenthos (2003)
prof. dr. E. Coppejans & prof. dr O. De Clerck - macroalgae (2003)
prof. dr. W. Vyverman - Protista (2003)
prof. dr. A. Vanreusel - meiobenthos of the deep sea and Antarctica (2003)
prof. dr. K. Sabbe - microphytobenthos(2004)

• Hasselt University, prof. dr. E. Schockaert & prof. dr. T. Artois - biodiversity/taxonomic databases (2003)
• Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
  prof. dr. J. Berlamont & prof. dr. J. Monbaliu - hydrodynamics and sediment mechanics (2006)
  prof. dr. F. Ollevier & prof. dr. F. Volckaert - marine and estuarine biology databases (2006)
  
• Free University of Brussels, prof. dr. N. Koedam & dr F. Dahdouh-Guebas - mangroves (2007)
• Flemish Heritage Institute (VIOE) - maritieme archeologie en varend erfgoed (2004)
• Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, Animal Science Unit - Fisheries Research Area (ILVO-Fisheries) - monitoring data and fisheries data (2006)
• Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO) - information exchange and data management with regard to marine and coastal research (2007)
including a renewal of the cooperation to enhance the access to the data- and information systems, and capacity building (2009)
• The MUMM department of RBINS - cooperation with regard to RV Zeeleeuw and RV Belgica (2002)
• Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) - development and management of databases in connection with the monitoring of transitional and coastal waters (2009)
• Policy Domain Mobility and Public Works (MOW) - disclosure and exchange of scientific information and use of the measurement data of tidal systems (2003)
• Agency for Maritime Services & Coast, Coastal Division - redistribution of data from Monitoring Network Flemish Banks (2001)
• Agency for Maritime Services & Coast, Coastal Division - chairing of the Sluice Dock management committee, management of data and website (2001)
• Agency for Maritime Services & Coast, and Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO) - monitoring of Flemish beaches (2006)

International networks:

• IODE data centre network (UNESCO/IOC); host of the UNESCO/IOC Project Office for IODE
• Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans (POGO)
• POGO News & Information Group representative of the Research Foundation - Flanders in the Marine Board of the European Science Foundation (ESF)
• Research Foundation Flanders in the Marine Board of ESF, the 'European Science Foundation'
• excecutive committee of the Marine Board
• Marine Board Communications Panel
• European Centre for Information on Marine Science and Technology (EurOcean)
• European Network of Marine Research Institutes & stations (MARS)
• European Federation of Marine Science and Technology Societies (EFMS)
• European Association of Aquatic Sciences Libraries and Information Centres (EURASLIC)
• International Association of Aquatic and Marine Science Libraries and Information Centers (IAMSLIC)
• National input centre of ASFA of the Food & Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)
• European Census of Marine Life (EuroCoML)
• MarBEF, the European network of 'Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning' (MarBEF+)
• Society for the Management of European Biodiversity Data (SMEBD)
• Executive committee of the European Register of Marine Species (ERMS)
• ICES 'Study Group on Biodiversity Science' (SGBIODIV)
• ICES 'Working Group on Marine Data Management' (WGMDM)
• steering committee’ of the ‘World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS)
• Editorial board Catalogue of Life and member of Species 2000
• Marine Observation and Data Expert Group (MODEG) as part of the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODNET)
• Sea Data Network (SeaDataNet)
• Global Sea Level Observing System Network (GLOSS)
• Coordinator of the European node (EurOBIS) of the ‘Ocean Biogeographic Information System’ (OBIS) of the ‘Census of Marine Life’ (CoML)