News

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 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.

From 17 to 20 November 2026, the World Conference on Marine Biodiversity 2026 will bring the global marine biodiversity community together in the historic city of Bruges, Belgium. Join the scientific conference as a participant or abstract presenter. On 18 November, the general public is also invited to a special screening of the deep-sea documentary How Deep is Your Love .

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.

For young oysters, finding the right place to settle is literally a matter of life and death. Their transition from free-swimming larvae to permanently attached adults is guided by a wide range of environmental cues. In her recently defended doctoral research, Sarah Schmidlin demonstrates that the Pacific oyster ( Magallana gigas ) uses not only chemical signals but also underwater sounds and...

From June 9th to 13th, more than 14,000 participants from 175 countries, including 75 heads of state and government, gathered for the UN Ocean Conference in Nice. They had one goal in mind: to secure the future of our ocean. Flanders and VLIZ were present with a robust delegation, bringing substantial expertise in marine science, innovation, and coastal policy. On the first day of the Ocean...

The eighth edition of the Big Seashell Survey was a record-breaking event. No fewer than 3,500 participants scoured 400 km of coastline in northern France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, collecting and identifying nearly 150,000 shells from 72 different species. This year, the differences between the three countries were less pronounced, with the cut trough shell ranking as the most frequently...

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 Thursday, 23rd January 2025, Secretary of State Ms. Alexia Bertrand officially launched Belgium's bid to host the secretariat for the 'Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction' (BBNJ) in Brussels. The event was held at the Egmont Palace, attended by a wide array of the global diplomatic community in Brussels. The Belgian...

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 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...

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.

This spring, the Flanders Marine Institute is opening six vacancies to recruit new PhD candidates. Curious which new research projects we are launching in close collaboration with one or more of the Flemish universities?

Ocean and seas cover 71% of the Earth's surface and are inhabited by diverse forms of life. Among these inhabitants, plankton emerges as a crucial component of the marine ecosystem. They dominate marine life in terms of abundance and biomass, and are essential contributors to the food web and the biological carbon pump. Additionally, plankton can serve as early indicators of changes in the marine...

On 16 January 2024, the ‘Rustpunt’ in Ghent served as a historic, green site to host the three-day kick-off meeting of the new project 'DuneFront'. This innovative project is funded through the European Commission's Horizon Europe Programme and coordinated by Ghent University.