News

A new VLIZ report, commissioned by the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership, maps out key opportunities and strategies to improve communication between marine scientists and policymakers. The publication Advancing knowledge exchange at the marine science-policy interface – An assessment of current tools and strategies offers a comprehensive four-chapter analysis of current best practices...

A system of barrier islands existed off the central Belgian coast around 4,000 BC. Much like the Dutch Wadden Sea today, this long-lived coastal system comprised sandy islands fronting a mosaic of tidal flats and marshes. The once-famous island of Testerep appears to have been part of this system. It began to vanish from around AD 500, for reasons that remain unknown, while the currently existing...

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.

Hydro vzw and The Sea as a Good Cause (the philanthropic project of VLIZ) present the prestigious Dr. Edouard Delcroix Research Grant and Incentive Award to scientists working within the broad field of the interaction between the ocean and human health. Would you like to participate? Submit your application before 19 January 2026.

From 13 to 17 October 2025, Ostend was immersed in maritime history as it hosted IKUWA8, the eighth world congress on underwater archaeology, under the central theme 'Telling the Exciting Tales of Our Past'. Four hundred researchers, policymakers, and heritage managers from 50 countries gathered in De Grote Post to explore the richness of the 'blue heritage'. From centuries-old shipwrecks to...

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...

Have you recently defended your PhD, MSc, or professional BSc thesis on a marine topic? Then you still have until 31 December to compete for one of the VLIZ Marine Science Awards 2025. Now with a small twist in the participation regulations.

From 6 to 10 October 2025, the second onsite training session of the GEORGE project ‘Technical Forum II: Sensors’, takes place at the Marine Station Ostend of VLIZ. The event brings together technicians, engineers and scientists from European marine research infrastructures.

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...

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.

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...

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...

Flanders is internationally recognised for its wide range of marine and maritime companies and research institutes. The brochure 'Gearing up our blue knowledge' gives a clear overview and snapshot of our expertise and achievements in this field.