News

With the publication of the Third World Ocean Assessment, the United Nations has released the most comprehensive evaluation ever undertaken of the state of the global ocean. The verdict is clear: the ocean provides food, oxygen and climate regulation, yet it is facing growing pressure worldwide. The report not only highlights the challenges but also identifies pathways towards a more sustainable...

Although the ocean covers more than 70% of the Earth's surface, only around 5% has been thoroughly explored. Through the new OceanEye initiative, the European Union aims to change that. By 2035, Europe wants to become a global leader in ocean observation and marine technologies.

Through a Memorandum of Understanding – signed during European Maritime Day 2026 in Limassol – the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI) and the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) are joining forces to strengthen innovation, knowledge exchange, and international collaboration in marine research.

On 9 May 2026 VLIZ joined the European Commission’s Open Day celebrations in Brussels on 9 May 2026. Together with DG MARE and DG RTD, and in the framework of the recently launched OceanEye initiative, VLIZ brought ocean observation closer to an estimated 18,000 visitors during a highly successful Europe Day event.

From 9 to 13 March 2026, a delegation from the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) conducted an extensive institutional visit to Chile. Building on a long-standing collaboration with Chilean partners, the mission marked a significant step in reinforcing VLIZ’s international engagement in leading ocean research. With visits to six locations, meetings with fourteen institutions and the signing of three...

The Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) plays a leading role in Europe in measuring CO 2 at the ocean surface, and is taking on the coordination of the European hub of the so-called Surface Ocean CO₂ Atlas (SOCAT). This EU hub was recently established to better coordinate the annual updates of the SOCAT synthesis products and to support SOCAT. The EU hub a.o. provides statistics for SOCAT, tracks...

What did the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) achieve in 2025? The new annual report brings together not only figures and facts, but above all the story behind marine research in Flanders. From climate research to innovative technology and international cooperation, this annual report offers a clear look at how science helps move both the sea and society forward. In the annual report, readers will...

The ocean and coastal areas play a vital role in our health and wellbeing. From bioactive compounds found in marine organisms to the calming effects of coastal landscapes on stress and cognitive function, marine research is providing more and more insights that support medical progress and improve quality of life. The prestigious Delcroix grants, presented by Hydro vzw and The Sea as a Good Cause...

The Sea as a Good Cause – VLIZ's charitable initiative – awards the Brilliant Marine Research Idea (BMRI) grants annually, valued at 5,000 euros each. In 2026 Frederik Van Daele (UGent) and Sofia Knoch (UGent) receive an extra incentive for their marine research through this funding. The BMRI grants can only be realized financially thanks to donations, VLIZ membership contributions, and...

As for previous years, the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) has again released its annual list of the top-ten marine species described by researchers during the past year to coincide with World Taxonomist Appreciation Day on March 19th!

On Wednesday 4 March, the VLIZ Marine Science Day (#VMSD26) took place at De Grote Post in Ostend. With 520 participants, it was the most attended edition ever. This annual event, recognised as an initiative within the UN Ocean Decade, brought together scientists, students and marine experts for an inspiring day filled with innovative research and networking opportunities. This year placed extra...

Gladys Mwaka Holeh, a doctoral researcher at VLIZ – Flanders Marine Institute and Ghent University, has been selected as a Blue Food Futures Fellow at the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions. The prestigious fellowship supports early-career researchers advancing the role of blue foods – foods sourced from aquatic systems – in sustainable global food systems.

This week (22–28 February 2026), VLIZ is well represented at the Ocean Sciences Meeting in Glasgow, Scotland. The Ocean Sciences Meeting (OSM) is the flagship conference for the ocean sciences and the wider ocean-connected community. In addition to several oral and poster presentations, VLIZ employees will (co-)chair various sessions and attend back-to-back meetings. See the full overview of VLIZ...

On Wednesday 4 March 2026, the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) brings together the marine scientific community on the VLIZ Marine Science Day 2026 at De Grote Post, Ostend. This edition will be entirely devoted to the internationalisation of marine research and will offer a dynamic programme with inspiring speakers, interactive sessions and opportunities to strengthen cross-border collaborations...

Tiny, but they pack a big punch! With a total of 10³¹ particles, viruses form the most abundant biological entities in the ocean. By selectively lysing their cellular hosts, viruses release dissolved organic matter, redirecting the flow of energy and nutrients away from higher trophic levels and toward microbial recycling, directly influencing biogeochemical fluxes within an ecosystem. Some...

On 12 February 2026, the Flanders Marine Institute welcomed Rector Petra De Sutter and Vice-Rector Herwig Reynaert to Ostend. During the visit, the activities of VLIZ were explained, and the close and long-standing collaboration with Ghent University in the field of marine sciences was reinforced.

On Friday 6 February 2026, VLIZ hosted the VLIZ PhD Symposium at the InnovOcean Campus in Ostend. This one-day event brought together PhD researchers, supervisors, external advisors and collaborators. It highlighted the diversity, quality and societal relevance of doctoral research conducted within the VLIZ Research Department in close collaboration with universities.

On 20 January 2026, a delegation from the Flanders Marine Institute visited the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) in Mombasa. The meeting focused on deepening cooperation between Kenya and Belgium, with an emphasis on capacity building, shared research infrastructure, and the sustainable development of the ocean.