News

The 2008 edition of the VLIZ Young Scientists' day attracted 192 participants from 52 different research teams. All disciplines from the marine, coastal and estuarine research were represented. It was a dazzling day to get informed about the ins and outs of the newest marine research in Flanders.

The next target is to reach 200,000, or roughly 80% of known marine species, by the end of 2008.

The sea is fished out. 90% of all predator fish at the top of the food web have been fished out in the last couple of decades. Three quarters of all fish stocks over the world are overharvested or are harvested at their maximum rate. Old animals of currently still common species are becoming rare and young animals become sexually mature quicker than ever before. This is exacerbated by the impact...

The large number of registrations compelled us to move to another location in the Leuven city centre. The new location is: auditorium Max Weber - Parkstraat 51, 3000 Leuven. Since there are only a limited number of parking possibilities in the neighbourhood, we strongly advise participants to make use of public transport.

We invite you all to the eighth edition of the 'VLIZ Young Scientists’ Day Marine Sciences’. During this annual marine happening, we annually welcome 100-200 mainly 'young' (pre-doctorate) researchers from our North Sea region. Our objective is to put a broad spectrum of sea and coastal sciences into the spotlight, and give young people the opportunity to get to know each other and to learn in an...

The symposium 'A future for fisheries? Towards effective strategies for sustainability' on 5 February 2008 in Leuven - on the occasion of the honorary doctorate awarded by the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven to the eminent fisheries biologist Daniel Pauly (Fisheries Centre - University of British Columbia, Canada).

On 10 December 2007 Minister-President Kris Peeters and Minister Patricia Ceysens disclosed the plans of the Flemish Government to build a new research vessel to replace the current vessel RV Zeeleeuw. The Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) will be responsible for the scientific programme and management of the research equipment. DAB Vloot (MDK) will ensure the good operation of the new coastal...

Call for adequate initial system to produce insights, forecasts useful to public, policy makers

The Sea Alarm conference in Thermae Palace in Oostende, Belgium (1-3 October 2007) focusses on the rescue of marine birds and mammals in case of an oil spill. Guest are skilled European experts, exchanging knowledge and ideas. Gosts are the Sea Alarm Foundation, VLIZ, MUMM and Wildlife Rescue Center Ostend.

To increase the appreciation for the work of young marine scientists and urge them to high quality research the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) rewards two recently published Master theses. The laureates receive 500 EUR and can present their work on the VLIZ Young Scientists Day on 29 February 2008.

To reward a recent innovative scientific contribution on the structure and functioning of the North Sea ecosystem

More than 200 European marine scientists and policy makers met in Aberdeen to formulate their vision on the role of science and technology in support of the planned European Maritime Policy. The strategy to follow was set down as the ‘Aberdeen Declaration’.

The Secretariat of the Marine Board – ESF will relocate in autumn 2007 to new offices in Oostende, supported by the Government of Flanders in association with VLIZ. Within this framework it is looking for a new administrator and a junior science officer.

On March 2, 2007, dr. Katja Philippart from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) and chair of a European working group on ‘Climate Change Impacts on the European Marine and Coastal Environment’ will present a new report on signals and scenarios of climate change in European seas. She will elaborate on the results of this Marine Board-ESF study, which started in 2005. A PDF of...

Every year the VLIZ employs several students for the months of July, August or September. You can apply by sending a mail with your CV and an application letter to jan.mees@vliz.be

VLIZ is granted by the Flemish Government to start a new educative project as a follow-up of the earlier launched ‘Expeditie Zeeleeuw’. We will soon start with the construction of the interdisciplinary project and the interactive website. Marine scientists and research groups with interest in participating in this initiative are invited to contact VLIZ.

This ‘position paper’ of the Marine Board of the European Science Foundation outlines the European strategy of marine research. A must to read!

We did succeed to add a special guest to the afternoon programme: Katja Philippart of NIOZ will present the new position paper of the ESF/Marine Board concerning the effects of Global Change in European seas and coastal areas. This report is a updated summary of a group of European marine experts on this 'hot' theme: a must to attend!