News

Underwater noise is an increasingly pressing issue for the health of our ocean. Human activities such as shipping, offshore construction and seismic surveys are making the marine environment noisier, affecting whales, dolphins, fish and other marine life. As concerns grow about the ecological impact, researchers, policymakers and industry are exploring ways to better understand and reduce this...

A curtain of air bubbles that intercepts plastic waste before it reaches the sea. That is the principle behind M.A.R.C., a new ‘Plastic Catcher’ currently being tested in the river IJzer in Nieuwpoort. On 23 October, you can see the system in action for yourself and meet the scientists and engineers behind it.

Off Greenland’s east coast, cold polar water flows south towards the North Atlantic Ocean. But the East Greenland Current does not follow a neat, straight path. It meanders, branches and spins off rotating masses of water: ocean eddies. Although relatively small, from a few kilometers to a few tens of kilometers across, these eddies can transport heat, nutrients, carbon and even pollutants, giving...

Can tiny sand mason worms help protect our coastline from erosion? In an innovative field experiment, Flemish researchers investigate how these remarkable marine engineers can be encouraged to settle on vulnerable beaches using specially designed artificial substrates. While ILVO scientists study how the worms establish new colonies and stabilise the sediment, researchers from VLIZ are mapping the...

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.

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...

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...

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.

For her PhD research, geologist and oceanographer Alice Ofélia Matossian (Ghent University) made extensive use of the VLIZ fleet of underwater robots and its scientific expertise. Thanks to this collaboration, an important step has been taken towards understanding how large sediment accumulations form on the seafloor of the Atlantic Ocean.

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 .

Between 2008 and 2024, Belgian universities and research institutes published between 447 and 974 peer-reviewed papers each year, across 2,006 different scientific journals. This output is on a par with the larger marine institutes in our neighbouring countries. A growing share of these papers is open access, rising from about 34% in 2008 to a provisional high of 79% in 2023.

The European Digital Twin Ocean, a flagship EU initiative turning ocean data into actionable knowledge, has entered its second phase with a €14 million investment. Led by Mercator Ocean International and the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) on behalf of the European Commission, this new stage — known as EDITO2 (2025–2028) — will both enhance the platform’s technological capabilities and expand co...

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.

The Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) has launched a unique underwater sound library for the North Sea. With more than 2000 sound clips, this collection offers insight into the complex soundscape of our busy sea. The library highlights trends across different years and variations between locations. In doing so, the platform supports policymakers, researchers, and the wider public in understanding...

On Tuesday 16 September, Their Majesties King Filip and Queen Mathilde visited the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) in Ostend. Their visit formed part of a provincial tour of West Flanders, centred on the theme of “safety at the North Sea.” At VLIZ, the focus was on the latest insights in marine research and the innovative technologies employed by scientists.