News

In February 2011 the Flemish research vessel Zeeleeuw celebrated its 10th anniversary. On the celebration - held on Wednesday 9 February - a hunderd users and sympathizers were present. The history of the ship and its importance for marine science and education in Flanders was emphasized.

Join us on the 25 th of February 2011 for the eleventh edition of the ‘VLIZ Young Marine Scientists' Day’. 300 marine and coastal scientists from our North Sea region registred yet to participate to this marine happening, but registration is open till the 18 th of February. Remember: the Young Marine Scientsist' Day is D-Day to meet each other and learn to know each others work within an informal...

Between 25 and 27 January our marine technician Michiel T'Jampens will follow a multibeam training onboard the RV G.O. Sars near Bergen (Norway). The acquired skills will be used in future multibeam work on the new research vessel 'Simon Stevin'.

The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) and associated databases are an index to the book of life, but our further goal is for every species to have its face on the web.

Kindly block 25 February in your diary. On that day VLIZ organises the 2011 edition of the VLIZ Young Marine Scientists' Day. A day where you can meet the marine and coastal scientists from the region of Flanders and surroundings. A day interesting for students and recently started researchers, as well as for senior reserachers. For all of them it is definitively important to get an overview of...

Oceanographers worldwide, united in the Partnership for the Observation of the Global Oceans (POGO) - where VLIZ represents the Belgian marine scientists - and the organisation ‘Oceans United’ will plead on the GEO Plenary and Ministerial Summit for a more systematic monitoring of the state of our global oceans. By means of recent and innovative digital developments, an implementation of such a...

On the symposium ‘The North Sea, a field lab for marine protection’ experts in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) can share their experiences on the use of scientific knowledge to designate, manage and monitor these speciale areas of conservation (with focus to the North Sea).

Marine scientists from across Europe gathered in Ostend at the EurOCEAN 2010 Conference (12-13 October) where the Ostend Declaration was adopted. This declaration will act as a guideline to address the grand challenges and opportunities facing Europe’s seas and oceans in the coming decade.

Together with a wide range of field experts from Belgium and taxonomic experts worldwide, the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) started to compile an inventory of all species living in the Belgian part of North Sea. At the moment, the Belgian Register of Marine Species (BeRMS) comprises 2187 species. An updated version of this list is consultable at all times via the new website of the Belgian...

An important mission of the Flanders Marine Institute is to create visibility for the marine and coastal research in Flanders. We therefore invest a lot in disseminating the output of the Flemish scientists via the world wide web.

Until the 4th of October, individuals or organisations can give their support and comments on the draft text of the " Ostend declaration". The statement will be launched on the 13th of October as the final piece of EurOCEAN2010. This international top-meeting will bring together the European marine scientists and policy makers. They will formulate the state-of-the-art in marine research and will...

To underpin and implement the integrated European Maritime Policy, including the Framework Marine Strategy, all available knowledge have to be combined and mobilized. Europe's fragmented activities for observing the sea should be integrated into an coherent package. With its new campaign ' Marine Knowledge 2020' the EU want to draw the attention to the further extension of a ' European Observation...

Annual award (1.000 EUR) for study on the structure and functioning of the North Sea ecosystem, with emphasis on coastal and estuarine areas of the Southern Bight and the Channel. Deadline: 29.10.2010

Annually two awards (500 EUR) for marine Master theses. Deadline: 29.10.2010

With a 89,000 km long coastline, Europe is a maritime continent which derives huge societal benefits from its seas and oceans. Coastal regions host almost half the population of EU countries with a sea border. To consolidate and reinforce the sustainable use of its marine waters and to meet the grand challenges and opportunities of the future, Europe has developed holistic policies, including the...

Until recently, the ScheldeMonitor was mainly known as an information system containing all publications, projects and data sets with regard to research and monitoring in the Scheldt estuary. Now major steps were made to develop ScheldeMonitor further into a data portal in which actual measurement data can be consulted.

The Project Office for IODE, hosted and supported by the Flemish Government through the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), is in search of a permanent staff member for the coordination of its international renomated technical training programme.

A final decision has been taken: the Dutch shipbuilder “Damen Shipyards Gorinchem” has been commissioned for the construction of the Simon Stevin, the ultramodern research vessel that will replace the "Zeeleeuw". The Flemish government gave its final approval on 5 August 2010, after which the order for the construction could be given. The ship will have a length of 36 m, a width of 9 m and a...