Policy Support

Policy-informing Brief (PIB)

In the PIB, neutral and scientifically underpinned advise is provided by VLIZ on demand of its target group. VLIZ is hereby supported by the expertise of coastal and marine scientists in the network of marine research groups in Flanders/Belgium and the international network.

• VLIZ (2012). Beleidsinformerende Nota: Hervorming van het Gemeenschappelijk Visserij Beleid GVB. VLIZ Beleidinsformerende nota's BIN 2012_001. Oostende. 11 pp. (Dutch)

Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM)

VLIZ recognizes the Coordination Centre on Integrated Coastal Zone Management as the focal point for ICZM in Belgium. VLIZ provides technical and scientific support in order to help the Coordination Centre in fulfilling its mission. Figures&Policy is a member of the executive committee of the Coordination Centre and is involved in a number of projects and initiatives which target an integrated and sustainable coastal zone management:

• The C-SCOPE project, in which inter alia the Coastal Atlas was created.
• The PEGASO project which strives for a common approach for developing integrated coastal zone management in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
• The SPINCAM and FOCA projects for an integrated and sustainable coastal zone management in South America.
• The GIFS project about the geography of inshore fisheries and sustainability.

Data and Information systems

• ScheldeMonitor: Flemish-Dutch knowledge and information system for research and monitoring on the Scheldt Estuary.
• IMIS: information on marine sciences in Flanders: scientists and their institutional affiliation, contact addresses, projects, publications, datasets,…
• Coastal Barometer: Sustainability Indicators for the Belgian Coastal Zone (Dutch).
• Coastal Atlas: Information about the use of the Belgian coast and sea, with interactive maps, PDF- and GIS-export of maps, images, graphs and external links.
• Coastal Wiki: Internet encyclopaedia with short articles addressed to and written by coastal experts, scientifically validated information about Coast and Sea.
• BWZee: Biological Valuation Map for the Belgian Continental Shelf.