News

The latest publication from the European Marine Board takes a clear stance on the potential of today’s ocean-based approaches for extracting CO₂ from the atmosphere — known as marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR). An analysis of the most prominent ocean-based methods shows that none of them currently provide a viable alternative to cutting emissions at the source. Rapid reduction of CO₂ emissions...

Global carbon emissions from fossil fuels are projected to rise by 1.1% in 2025 – reaching a record high, according to new research by the Global Carbon Project. The 2025 Global Carbon Budget projects 38.1 billion tonnes of fossil carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions this year. Decarbonisation of energy systems is progressing in many countries – but this is not enough to offset the growth in global...

Michiel Perneel’s PhD research at the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), and Ghent University used advanced genetic techniques to uncover what plankton are actually doing in the Belgian North Sea. By applying metatranscriptomics – which reveals which genes are active at a given moment – he tracked the daily and seasonal activities of microscopic...

The philanthropic arm of VLIZ – The Sea as a Good Cause – continues to support young, creative marine researchers. This year, six research grants will be awarded again to PhD students and junior postdocs working in Flanders, as well as to doctoral students from the Global South. Key requirement: dare to think differently, dare to be innovative. Submit your proposal by 19 January 2026.

During the unprecedented marine heatwave in 2023, the global ocean absorbed significantly less CO₂ than anticipated. That show measurements analysed by an international team of climate scientists, including Peter Landschützer of the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ).

Seven experts from Belgian universities and research institutes have been appointed as authors of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Seventh Assessment Report (AR7). They are among the 761 researchers worldwide who have been selected to contribute to what will be the IPCC’s most comprehensive review of climate science to date. VLIZ is contributing climate scientist Peter...

VLIZ climate researcher Alizée Roobaert is one of the finalists of the prestigious 2024 Chen Institute and Science Prize for AI Accelerated Research. Alizée developed an innovative AI solution to monitor oceanic climate dynamics. Her essay is published in today’s issue of Science online.

Groundbreaking research thrives on passion, innovation and persistence. At the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), our commitment to polar climate research exemplifies this principle. Since the launch of the Marine Robotics Centre six years ago, collaboration between engineers, researchers and state-of-the-art infrastructure has rapidly positioned VLIZ as a key player in polar science. By...

As climate change accelerates and sea levels rise, coastal regions face unprecedented threats. Traditional methods of coastal protection are evolving to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Enter the dune-dike solution: a hybrid, nature-based approach that combines natural dunes with man-made dikes to offer resilient, adaptable, and sustainable coastal protection. This method is gaining...

The newly appointed EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis visited – at the invitation and in the presence of Minister Crevits, Governor Decaluwé and a delegation of European, federal, regional and local dignitaries – the research facilities of the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) and the Institute for Agricultural, Fisheries and Food Research (ILVO) in Ostend on 20 January. In the...

From November 26-27, the vibrant city of Málaga hosted CommOCEAN 2024, bringing together 135 participants passionate about marine science communication. Organized by the European Marine Board Communication Panel, the conference was a platform for exchanging ideas, exploring innovative strategies, and fostering collaborations.

The by VLIZ developed PANTHYR instrument is playing a key role in enhancing satellite observations for marine environmental monitoring. The installation in Chesapeake Bay (USA), not only measures water quality but also validates crucial satellite data of NASA’s newest PACE mission.

The VLIZ Marine Science Day 2025, taking place on Wednesday, 5 March at VIVES hogeschool in Bruges, will be a special event, as it marks the 25th anniversary of the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ). In addition to the usual scientific presentations and networking opportunities for marine scientists across a wide range of disciplines, this year’s event offers a unique chance to reflect on VLIZ’s...

VLIZ is pleased to welcome a new group of PhD researchers to our research community. These eight doctoral candidates are each undertaking important projects that address key issues in marine science. Their work will enhance our understanding of the ocean and coastal environments, while contributing to solutions for today’s environmental challenges. From studying microplastics and climate change to...

Bioplastics* cannot be seen as the ‘holy grail’ for the marine plastic problem after all. The research by Zhiyue Niu, PhD student at Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) and UGent, shows that bioplastics also break down into microplastic particles under the influence of UV radiation and wave action, albeit to a lesser extent than the usual petroleum-based plastics. Bioplastics also leak their...

For nine days in September 2023, researchers observed an unprecedented seismic signal. The cause of this mysterious ‘earth tremor’ turned out to be a giant landslide in Greenland: a mass of 25 million m3 of rock and ice came loose and thundered into the Dickson Fjord. This created a 200 metre high megatsunami that kept sloshing back and forth in the narrow fjord for nine days, a phenomenon known...

On Tuesday 3 September 2024, Her Majesty the Queen visited the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ). The visit was framed within the United Nations' Agenda 2030, and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), through which the international community aims to address major global challenges such as poverty, climate change, or increasing inequalities.

New research led by the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) – in collaboration with several partners including VLIZ – has found that the Southern Ocean absorbs more carbon dioxide (CO 2) than previously thought. Using direct measurements of CO 2 exchange or fluxes between air and sea, the scientists found that the ocean around Antarctica absorbs 25% more CO 2 than...