News

During the United Nations General Assembly in New York (21-25 September 2026), Belgium reinforced its commitment to sustainable global ocean observing. The country joined the OceanEye International Alliance and announced several concrete pledges to further strengthen the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). VLIZ also plays an important role in these efforts, leading or supporting several Belgian...

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.

Today’s climate, ocean and biodiversity policy frameworks are not ready to regulate ocean-based carbon removal techniques. This is the main outcome of a new VLIZ policy informing brief which demonstrates that marine carbon, as a transversal element between climate policy, biodiversity conservation, and the blue economy, is structurally underrepresented across these policy domains. A key step...

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...

The Arctic Ocean is changing rapidly, with consequences that are expected to extend far beyond the polar region. Over the coming months, and within the context of E(ddies)GC project , researchers from the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) will lead an international research effort to better understand one of the least explored drivers of polar climate: swirling ocean currents known as eddies...

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...