News

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.

Our planet is more than 70% ocean, yet much of the seafloor remains a mystery. The international Seabed 2030 Project, an initiative of The Nippon Foundation and GEBCO, is determined to change that. Its goal: by 2030, to deliver a complete, freely accessible map of the entire ocean floor. This is more than a scientific dream; a detailed seafloor map is vital for applications such as improved...

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.

At the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), 9-13 June 2025, Mercator Ocean International unveiled the next-generation European Digital Twin of the Ocean (EU DTO), an advanced AI-powered platform designed to simulate and explore “what-if” scenarios that reveal the potential impacts of our decisions —past, present and future — on the marine environment and the socio-economical activities. As a major outcome...

Last month, the uncrewed vessel USV Gobelijn carried out the very first multi-day uncrewed mission in Belgian Part of the North Sea. This important milestone in the future of uncrewed marine operations in Belgium was made possible thanks to a strong and open partnership with the FPS Mobility and Transport, the Agency for Maritime and Coastal Services (MDK), the Joint Nautical Authority (GNA)...

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...

In 2023, the first phase of the expansion of the Marine Station Ostend opened its doors. By 2024, all remaining planned upgrades were finalized. VLIZ replaced the old residential building at the Slipwaykaai with a new construction that integrates seamlessly with the expanded Marine Station.

As of 2023, Belgium is home to a total of 144 marine research groups, setting a new record. This is according to the annual inventory of the Belgian marine research landscape conducted by the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ). Belgian marine research stands out for its global collaboration and the open availability of scientific knowledge. With a total of 144 marine research groups (MRGs) in 2023...

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...

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...

For her PhD research, Nelle Meyers (VLIZ, ILVO, UGent) developed a new cost- and time-effective method for the detection and identification of microplastics in the marine environment. The semi-automatic method combines staining of microplastic particles with the fluorescent dye nile red and machine-learning algorithms. The method tested reliably for most types of polymers, even when the...

On June 13, the third edition of the Digital Ocean Forum (DOF2024) high-level event, held under the auspices of the Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU, took place in Brussels. It was co-organised by the European Commission’s Directorates-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), and Defence, Industry and Space (DG DEFIS). The Flanders Marine...